Certified Resolution Writing Endeavor Review Report: Week Forty-Nine and Fifty

Guys, the year is almost over.

I don't quite know what to do with that information.  It seems like it was only a few months ago that I was sitting in my parents' basement, lacking sleep from the New Year's party I'd attended, and deciding on a whim to arrange this whole endeavor.  There's no way that happened over eleven months ago.

Sigh.

Excuse the lack of Certified Resolution Writing Endeavor Updates for last week.  I got blogged-out.  Plus nothing was happening.  Absolutely.  Nothing.  My friends.

There was also a lack of anything happening this week.  Unless you count several form rejections as something of interest.  I really don't.

The idea for a new short story did wake me up early this morning.  That was fun.  But not as fun as those late nights when the ideas keep coming and before you know it 4 AM is moments away and you're still writing even though you have to get up at 6 AM YAYZ!  Good times.

I've also been doing so-so in the revamping of THE NOVEL.  Right now, I'm rewriting the scenes working up to the climax, trying to add more tension to the scenes.  All this work has to be done by hand, of course, because that is the way I roll.

How has your week been, internetz?

Certified Resolution Writing Endeavor Review Report: Week Forty-Eight

Guys, I received a new bestest-rejection ever email!  It was very exciting, because it came from an agent who usually doesn't formally send out rejections, but allows her unending silence do the rejecting for her.  Anyway, the agent offered to read more of my work.  But I'm having trouble deciding what to send her.  After getting so many stories rejected by so many agents and editors, I'm starting to have self-esteem issues about all of my completed projects.  But still, exciting!

So, most of my weekend has been devoted to rereading my general exam questions in preparation for my defense that will be taking place SOME time this week (I will not be more specific in case of some dreaded failure action.  Not that it really matters.  It's not like it's a driver's test that I can retake a few days later.  Not that I had to retake my driver's test.  I'm just saying, I didn't tell anyone when that test was going down either).

But let me tell you,  eeeeeek to all the typos!  They are all over the place.  If I weren't reading my papers I'd wonder if I could read.  Alas, the same is true for a lot of my fiction works too.  While the first 20 pages or so are usually very polished, as the stories go on, there are more and more tiny typos since I look over those parts less often.

In other frightening news, it seems overall I may be having an easier time obtaining my Ph.D than getting a book published.  What does that say about me?  About the state of the publishing world?  I don't really want to think about it.

Certified Resolution Writing Endeavor Review Report: Week Forty-Seven

Hello, peeps!

Not much to report here.

I'm pretty much abandoned NaNoWriMo.  I know, I know.  Major FAIL on my part.  But I've had other projects on my mind--mainly editing the last novel I'd completed to try to resubmit it.  I'll plan to hit up NaNoWriMo in a more committed way next year.  I swear.  Kinda.

I do have one major frustration with my current editing process.  To make more edits, I work better with a printed out version.  But it's a catch-22, cause now I see all those terrifying red pen marks that I've made to the first third of the novel and I REALLY DO NOT WANT TO TYPE UP ALL THOSE CHANGES!  It'll take forever!  Plus, I'll have to decipher my own handwriting.  That's so much work!  And I'm so lazy.

I think I just might wait until I've made changes to the entire piece by hand.  Then I'll type up all those changes, making sure that just enough time has passed so that I don't even remember what I intended to write.  It'll be fun.  Maybe.

Good time ahead!

Certified Resolution Writing Endeavor Review Report: Week Forty-Six

Oh, dear but few beloved readers, I am a failure.

Remember how last week I was all optimistic about my NaNoWriMo project, saying there were a few plot holes, but I'd basically figured them out, and I was going to write, everything would be okay, I'd solve world hunger, write my general exams, fix global warming, make cake from scratch and take a nap.  Well, I have failed on all these fronts.  Why do you put up with me?  Why do you still read this post?  Are you still reading this post?!

I did not write a word for NaNoWriMo at all this week.  Not. a. single. word.  I did however get two excellent picturebook ideas.  I've already begun working on them.  Perhaps I did choose the wrong challenge....

Two rejections this week!  One a very nice form letter.  The other a not so nice form letter.  But who's keeping track of these things, eh?

In other news, while I was procrastinating from NaNoWriMo, I played with the blog's background.  (Without even asking Monica for permission!  For shame!  I think that makes me a bad partner in bloggery)  What are your thoughts, dear readers?  I think the books may be squishing the content a little too much.  Consider it a work in progress.

Certified Resolution Writing Endeavor Review Report: Week Forty-Five

It's been an eventful week for me!  I got my bestest rejection ever--with revision suggestions and an offer for me to resubmit.  Yays!  And I will resubmit...once I have time to revise the piece.  Which won't be soon with Nanowrimo and general exams.  I'm thinking it'll be my goal to resubmit by the new year.

Since I mentioned Nanowrimo, I'll tell you now, I'm only doing so-so on the challenge.  I have yet to make a word count goal.  But on the plus side, I've spent a lot of time working on this new project this week.  And it was consuming my thoughts so much that I almost missed my bus stop a few days ago plotting the story.  Which was fun in a "I don't have to be anywhere specific, so it's totally not an issue that my walk is going to take some extra time.  And this heavy backpack full of library books?  Well, that's just making me stronger.  Right?  Right." way.  I have, however, run into a kinda big plot hole that has made me pause.  I'll find away across the hole or a way to fill it in.  Somehow.  Soon.  Ish.

Certified Resolution Writing Endeavor Review Report: Week Forty-Four

So, each year November comes around (as November is prone to do) and with it arrives Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month) and I usually come up with an excuse that prevents me from participating:  "I'm too busy," or "It's november 3rd.  It's too late for me to start."  Stuff like that.  But this year, I'm going to give it a try!  (despite the fact that I have the best excuse EVER...I'm taking my Ph.D candidacy exams!  Don't want to drop the ball on that one)  But I've also decided this month would be the perfect time to abandon sanity.  Especially since I'm still struggling to get into my newest writing project.  What better way than to intensely allow it to consume me for a whole month, eh?

I also just heard about the Tara Lazar's picturebook alternative through this blog.  They're thinking of a different idea for a picturebook each day.  Sounds awesome!  I'd participate, but I'm a novel-minded author.  I come up with one mediocre picturebook idea every few years.  And whenever I try to write a short story, I inevitably get feedback that it "feels like the start of a novel."  Sigh.  So, I don't think I have 30 picturebook ideas in me.

Hell, I don't think I have enough of an idea to write an entire novel in a month.  I did approximately 1,200 words yesterday.  Which is good.  But I'm already below the daily goal.  It's especially annoying, because I can track my lack of kick-assedness on a bar graph in my nanowrimo user account.  My word count is a mere dot compared to the goal count.  I hates me my bar graph.  And this, my few but dear readers, is after day one.

Part of my problem is also the fact that I work best when I write by hand.  To count my words each day, nanowrimo wants my entire manuscript to be typed up.  They want me to write 1,600 words a day AND type it up?  But, but I'm lazy.  You're interfering with my bad work ethic, nanowrimo!

Shel's Brain:  But that's the point, you fool!
Shel:  Shut up, Brain!  Nobody here needs you!

dnsfiew;oj;njsdn;lksij;dehndfkme;aodiaenfo;sijfaeksmf;kaljhgiaehwjnsdihfjnewajifsjhansefnaiowenfawens;fiaesmfiawne;fmvidnv;s dwoejifh;ewijfaiwehfud ojuwiehf;qe fiewij 'orije iai jwi jijifajwei f;aweiawesjf;ejraifhjeqwa  jfai;ejf i;iwefj iaji;sfi;awef;j iejfowiejfaksjf rekjf i;jfdja;efj;ie jfiwehugs ;ifreiufdhj i;gusd;ifg;efiersdjjfiehfjha;kwdj;faojriehfijekfa;f e iei ei;a;iaeif ;ie;e 'ow'ialsefheirh ;awdj
Q'SD;FK AE;ISFAJSD IESJD;IS  ewaisfj;iehsdf aiewf; awedh
ndjfnllea;eibonbcoeamkdfawe...

...reeeeeeettttttuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurn 2 mEEEEeeeeeeZ BBBBrainzzz!!!

Shel's Brain:  Say it, fool!
Shel:  I am nothing without you.  I needs you to think and stuff.
Shel's Brain:  And never forget that again!
Shel:  To be fair, I could.  After all, you're the one in charge of memory and--
Shel's Brain:  Shut up, Shel.  And stop typing.  It's not like anyone will read these ramblings!  You're so annoying.  I should have been the one to leave you!

Certified Resolution Writing Endeavor Review Report: Week Forty-Three

So, how about that 24-hour readathon, hmm?

Intense.  I'd thought it would have been easier.  I was shocked by how quickly I started to feel tired.  I never realized how good I was at working for four or five hours.  But after those four or five hours, it would seem that my brain quits.  Literally, I think it wandered away for a mental cigarette.  No really, what it actually demanded was a break to recharge in the warm glow of the TV.  That was strange, since I don't consider myself to be a TV-dependent person.

Sign me up for the next one!

I think for the next readathon, I will make a point of setting aside some shorter books to begin with.  Also, I'll plan to not be mid-way through my general exams.  Desperately needing to do homework as a part of my reading was a downer.  It was like I was the grounded kid, watching everyone else play in the street through my closed double-pained window.

The mini-challenges were a lot of fun, especially for providing a sense of community.  Thanks to all the cheerleaders for their comments and encouragement and to those other readers who participated in our mini-challenge.  I never expected we'd get so many hilarious responses.

Also a big wave and a grand welcome *trumpets blare* to those few but super-awesome peeps who have started following our blog.  I hope we manage to amuse you!

My personal readathon continues today, since the hunger for a good book never abates in my house.

Also, don't forget our second literary feast will begin tomorrow night.  Monica and I will be discussing the first 50 pages of Lisa McMann's Wake.  All are invited!  We welcome your thoughts on the book.

In writing news, week three has passed without any rejections.  I don't know what to think.  But I do wonder if this tickle in my chest is the return of hope, my self-esteem or just a cold setting in.

I have discovered the perfect agent.  For me.  I won't say who.  But he or she (no hints!) has represented two of my favorite books, both of which have similar themes and styles to my own.  I plan to prepare a query to go out tomorrow.  I anticipate rejection, of course.  That is always much safer for my mental state.

Certified Resolution Writing Endeavor Review Report: Week Forty-Two

My life right now is dominated by one question.  One teeny-tiny, three-part, page-long general exam question that is due Wednesday.  hehehee.

So right now, all I do is edit my response (which has seeped out into a horrifying 40 pages) or avoid thinking about my response (I'm very good at this and I do it often).

I still haven't received any of those pesky overdue rejections (or acceptances) that I was expecting last week.  What's the deal editors and agents?  Usually you're so good about rejecting me.  Are you all out and about having fun without me?

I never know how to feel while waiting for responses about my manuscripts.  When I get an immediate reply, I get all excited when I see the email or envelope (which quickly falls to disappointment when I actually open said emails or envelopes) as thus far my quick responses have all been rejections.  But I feel thankful, because, it seems, the longer I wait to hear back, the more hopeful I get for no apparent reason.  What about you fellow authors, do you prefer to have a stranger walk up to you and rip the band aid off quickly or to keep staring at the pesky band aid, watching as dirt, dust and hair sticks to the edges, hoping there's something new and surprising under that stupid old band aid?

What's that?  A bad analogy that went on WAY too long?  Well, maybe that's why I'm still struggling to be published.  Deal with it.  I am.

Off to edit my general exam...hmmm, It's now 42 pages.  Huh.  Do you, do you think it's expanding when I'm not watching it?

Certified Resolution Writing Endeavor Review Report: Week Forty-One

Tralalalala.

I had a wonderful short story idea.  I thought of it while walking to a bus stop, and wrote all it's beautiful prose in my head--from beginning to end.  Hours later, I finally got to my computer, opened a new file for story.  And stared at the blank page.  Attempted to write that first sentence.  Deleted it.  Tried again.  Then decided I had to wait for my inspiration to return.  Sigh.  My phone has an audio recorder.  I've used audio recorders in the past.  I must return to that.  Even though my characters' voices flow so much more freely in my head than aloud (is that ironic or what?).

In other news, my general exams have begun.  I've had question one for almost a week and that's dominating my mind and time.  Although, I've noticed my academic writing process is similar to my creative one--intensive outlining followed by spurts of intense work, then followed my spurts of panic and avoidance.  Although, my creative process usually involves less panic, since there aren't specific time limits or grades.  Usually.

I have made several submission based on the tips and speakers I saw from last weekend's conference.  There are a bunch of agents I should be hearing back from soon though.  I anticipate rejections will around.  Maybe I'll hear back tomorrow.  Monday seems to be the day to get email replies since many editors and agents do their reading on the weekends.

Certified Resolution Writing Endeavor Review Report: Week Forty

I spent yesterday at a local writers' conference.  I decided to go in an attempt to find my missing motivation.  In the past, I've walked away with mixed feelings about conferences.  A lot of the time, some of the information is obvious.  Other times, the editors and agents in attendance aren't looking for the types of manuscripts I'm writing.  And then I usually end up with the dilemma that all of the breakout sessions I want to attend are being held at the exact same time, either requiring me to learn how to be in two places at once or requiring me to gain spy skills and bug the other sessions.

This time was actually more enjoyable.  It was only one day, which was much more pleasant than one of the stretched out three day affairs.  They had tasty desserts at lunch.  Plus, I had an AWESOME conversation with one of the published writers who was there speaking.  It was very cool and inspiring.  And by "inspiring," I mean she gave me a few ideas that involve making some major changes to my latest manuscript before I send it out again.

There is work to be done, my friends!

In other news, I'm rereading a short work of creative nonfiction that I wrote three years ago in the hope of shortening it.  I couldn't help but notice my three-year-ago voice sounded kind of snooty.  Since I didn't plan to sound snooty when I was writing the piece, does this mean I was snooty?!

Certified Resolution Writing Endeavor Review Report: Week Thirty-Eight and Thirty-Nine

So, nobody seemed to notice.  I kinda, sorta forgot to do an update last week.  Oopsie.

I'm also not too excited about having to post this week either.  All summer, I've been becoming more and more frustrated with the submission process.  I'm not giving up.  Don't think that for a second.  I'm just feeling frustrated.

On an unrelated note, don't forget we want to begin our reading feast series on Monday!  We're going to begin by discussion The Warrior Heir.  Feel free to join us.  The more peeps reading, the merrier!

Read with us!

It's not often you find a fantasy story that's partially set in Ohio.  So pick up The Warrior Heir and devour it with us.

Certified Resolution Writing Endeavor Review Report: Week Thirty-Seven

Not much going on here.

This blog is officially also available at thehungryreaders.com.  So, if you ever feel you need to escape blogger, you can find Monica and my literary thoughts there.

It's strange, but I've finally grown accustomed to having to send out queries regularly.  Instead of needing to set aside a certain amount of time each week, I find myself just randomly and reliably doing so throughout the week.

Some days, trying to get published is much more of a painful-frustrating-I-want-to-scream-or-sink-deep-down-into-an-oceany-abyss process than others.  Right now, I'm catching up on the episodes of Hung that I missed over the past several weeks (and let me tell you, I felt awkward googling the show title to create the link in that last sentence).  On the plus side, in ten years, if I'm still totally unpublished, I could TOTALLY be a better pimp than the struggling poet, Tanya, is on that show.  That's something.

Certified Resolution Writing Endeavor Review Report: Week Thirty-Six

Oh, long weekends.  How you confuse me.  As though I don't already have enough trouble remembering what day it is.

Last week, my submissions were to short story and poetry competitions. I usually avoid these. Mostly because they cost money to enter. Money that few people, and especially I, as an unpaid writer and grad student, don't have much of. Plus I have yet to win or even place in any of these things. I have to admit though, aside from wanting my damn money back with each contest rejection, they do send out the nicest rejection letters.  They tend to seem much more sympathetic and sorrowful than most rejections, as though they'd like to accept you, but they can't count beyond three, or ten, or however many honorable mentions they're going to give and as though they'd like to give me award money, but they too are too financially strapped to afford it.  So, here, instead accept this book/magazine/journal for free...It doesn't include my story, but it does have the ones the judges felt were only slightly more enjoyable than your work.

As for this week, I spent all of yesterday editing the novel in poems that I wrote several years ago, trying to parse down the word count so I could send it off to a certain competition.  I really like narrative poems.  There's nothing like being able to edit an entire novel in one day even though you should be doing other work.

In other news, you may notice some changes are afoot on the blog.  Although I am naturally opposed to rating systems for books, I've decided to implement one of my own.  It'll be in exclamation points, because that's a language I understand.

A summary is to the left, but to make things simple !!!!! = LOVE,  ! = HATE.  It may take some time for the new system to actually make an appearance in the reviews.

You'll also notice some more changes to come in the future of this blog.  But you'll have to wait for the big announcement...which will be made on an unknown day at some yet to be determined time.  Get comfy.  It may be a long ride.

And don't forget!  Tomorrow is International Literacy Day!  

Certified Resolution Writing Endeavor Review Report: Week Thirty-Five

I am particularly exhausted today. I spent two nights this week being an extra in a movie. My motivation for doing this was mainly boredom and the fact that I can now wander around and inform people that "Yeah, I was an extra in a movie once...."

The most interesting parts were the other extras I got to meet. So many of the people there were networking. And it wasn't just for acting. A man was doing magic tricks. A woman was doing portraits of the other extras. (She actually managed to get the attention of a few members of the crew who thought she might be able to help with story-boarding on other projects). Observing these people pass out their cards, describing the various projects they've worked on, their previous roles, etc. proved to be a nice break from playing poker with skittles and "would you rather..." with my friend.

I, on the other hand, did not attempt to network. I have trouble with the whole idea. Something about trying to sell yourself...actually feels like selling yourself. Or being overly prideful (which in my case always results in me fulling on my face--usually literally). As a quiet person, I prefer to direct the topic of conversation to others instead of myself. And as a person who expresses myself better on paper, I prefer writing letters or emails instead of actual speaking in front of a group or over the phone.

My biggest steps in social networking have been this blog and my twitter account. And this blog has become less about my sad attempt at selling myself and more about recording all the children's books I've been reading. I remember the details and themes of a text so much better when I blog about it. Plus, instead of doing pathetic google searches for books "I read that one time...by that one dude...about that one thing...." I can now look through my archives and find my exact thoughts on a book and the tensions it deals with.

And as for Twitter, well, I don't feel I'm really making connections. Instead, I feel like I'm eavesdropping on all the conversations the popular kids are having, while trying to act cool, but silently wishing one of them would invite me over. So high school. And good fodder for writing about teenage angst.

So, what's the point of this post? What am I trying to say? Well...

Did I ever write to you about the time I was an extra in a movie?

Certified Resolution Writing Endeavor Review Report: Week Thirty-Four

Checking in again.

Are we absolutely certain that an entire week has gone by? Cause time appears to be speeding up. And I don't appreciate it.

Many agents and editors frown on sending out simultaneous submissions (submitting one of your manuscripts to many of them all at once). And since I've already sent out an excerpt of my most recent story, I've had to focus this week on sending out a few short stories instead. This has led me to the conclusion that there need to be more science fiction magazines. I think the best way for that to happen would be to have more people fall in love with science fiction. You hear that, people? Get on that.

That is all.

Certified Resolution Writing Endeavor Review Report: Week Thirty-Three

My goodness, the weeks are passing quickly.  I'd really prefer that they didn't.  In fact, if time could stop so that the summer continues for a while, I'd be very appreciative.  Can someone get on that for me?  Thanks.

In terms of writing, things are going well.  I sent off the first few chapters of the book I began over two years ago (and that I've been rewriting for most of this Resolution Endeavor) to a few editors.  It was probably jumping the gun a little.  But I was starting to feel like every single children's editor or agent in the whole world has seen my other novels and rejected them.

I thought it was about time they had something new to reject.

Certified Resolution Writing Endeavor Review Report: Week Thirty-Two

I've been making a lot of progress on my story.  Figured out some big plot holes which is exciting.

I can't wait to finish it and be able to start sending it out to agents.  It's so hard to keep it hidden.

The challenge of writing for 15 minutes each day in August is still proving very effective to help me wade in to doing some serious writing.

And that is that.

Certified Resolution Writing Endeavor Review Report: Week Thirty-One

Just checking in.

Let me tell ya, I think Laurie Halse Anderson is on to something with her "write for fifteen minutes every day in August plan."  I like having to write for fifteen minutes MUCH more than the pressure of having to produce seven pages of work each week.  Something to keep in mind for next year....

Email rejection of the day:  "No thank you, but thank you for writing to me about your novel."

Damn.  I miss the longer form letters. 

Certified Resolution Writing Endeavor Review Report: Week Thirty

Wha-what?  Is it, is it Sunday?  Now?  Already?  But-but, it was just...I don't understand.  Time, are you screwing with me?

Well, I just got a hold of another poetic novel (povel?), and I've decided to begin submitting my own YA povel once more.  I was more than slightly discouraged by the rejection saying such a project from an unheard of author didn't stand a chance that I received several months ago and have since been focusing on sending out my other projects.  But Kaleidoscope Eyes (to be reviewed in a few weeks), while still with many serious bits, has a sense of fun I tried to capture in my own story.  So I'm off to submit to that publisher with fingers, toes and even legs crossed, but not arms (uncrossed arms are needed for typing--Although my legs won't remained crossed for long...I'm not a big fan of hopping.  I tend to fall).

Tomorrow promises to be a long day on campus, but hopefully tonight I can do some writing and relaxing.

Certified Resolution Writing Endeavor Review Report: Week Twenty-Nine

On the plus side, I've had a lot of ideas for a few of my stories this week.

A problem has arisen though, because one of the ideas would take a story I thought I'd had planned in a completely new direction.  So, here I stand, at the point where two roads diverge in a wood...except there aren't any woods...or roads.  And I'm sitting at my computer....

So, a little help.  Which way should the story go?  Pick a number, one or two!

Behold!  My writing process.  Leave your selection in the comments.  And be aware that I have no intention of telling you what the options are I'm deciding between.