So Much to Celebrate

Alex J Cavanaugh's IWSG and the 4th of July in one week? So much to celebrate!

July 4th has always been my favorite holiday. Because of it, I will toss aside my monthly griping to celebrate some small successes.

I love editing. It's my favorite part of the process. But that also means I can get stuck editing the hell out of what I've written instead of moving forward. This summer, I've committed to moving forward and cranking out a first draft by the end of the year. A very smart CP of mine told me to commit to 500 words a day. It's so simple, and for someone with my stupid, insane schedule, it's perfect. Slowly but steadily, I've wracked up 20,000+ words this summer. I estimate that's ~25% of being done. Perhaps not worthy of fireworks, but certainly worthy of a really good tasting imported beer with a ridiculously high alcohol content. Yes, I realize given the week a Coors Light might be more American of me, but this type of small success ought to be celebrated properly.

So, cheers - to big successes, small successes, and everything in between! Whatever your successes may be, I hope you all take the time to celebrate them properly.

'Tis the Season

It's been a while, I know. But what's a holiday season without a little insecurity?

Let's start with my good news. My good news is I started my next WIP. Granted, I'm only two chapters in, but it's a start. I've been exchanging chapters with a dear friend and CP. In fact it's because of him (and my last IWSG post) that I'm writing again. He's fabulous at peer pressuring me. In fact so many of my CPs have been wonderfully supportive by trying to kick my butt into writing gear. Thank you for that.

Here's my problem, with the limited writing time I have, everything I give him is rough...and by rough I mean ROUGH. And yet so many of his comments have been positive, which, naturally, makes me insecure. Yes, I give my chapters away hoping someone else will like them. But then when someone does, I flip out and feel the need to pass them around until someone will crush my growing optimism and knock me down a peg. Stupid. Sick, twisted - yep, I know. Tell me, why do we only trust the bad stuff?

I hope you all enjoy a lovely holiday season!

Inspiring Success Stories

I have officially become a lurker. I've been stopping by blogs, reading what you have to say, and leaving without commenting. Blasphemous, I know....If it helps, I feel guilty about it. In my very weak defense, most of my perusing has been on my iPhone, which makes commenting impossible. Let's blame Apple, shall we? (Certainly this has nothing to do with user error). Why Apple, when the iPhone can do so much, is blog commenting difficult?

In my prowling, however, I've come across some people with wonderful news. I thought this month might be a good month for a few success stories. If you don't know these people already, follow them.  They are wonderful, knowledgeable, and perfect people to secretly stalk visit:

Amy Sonnichsen at The Green Bathtub

Amy just sold her book, RED BUTTERFLY, to S&S

Dahlia Adler at The Daily Dahlia

Dahlia sold one book, changed agents (after multiple offers of rep)

AND she'll be blogging about it this month

Go visit them and be inspired. I GUARANTEE both of these authors have big writing careers ahead of them.

Happy IWSG Day! 

IWSG: Gremlins

It's been a while since I've posted - I know. I said I'd be back after we moved and then nothing. Little did I know how long it would take to "move in" to a house. I swear late at night those stupid boxes piled in my garage are multiplying like evil little gremlins.

So, I reenter the blogosphere (briefly) for ISWG day baring a few gifts....contests....and good ones.

If you have a fabulous MS waiting around seeking representation you MUST check out:

Christmas in July hosted by the fabulous Ruth Lauren Steven and Michelle Krys. Submission window will be open July 9.

Authoress of Miss Snark's First Victim is also hosting July's Secret Agent Contest on July 8 AND The Adorable Editor's Contest on July 16.

Now onto my IWSG post hosted by the fabulous Alex J Cavanaugh.

Over a year ago, I jumped into submissions with my first MS thinking "it's now or never." It did pretty well - no offers of representation, but just enough encouragement to make me think publication is possible. I entered the blogosphere, met some fabulous, kind, talented, smart, smart, smart people - writers, agents, friends and critique partners. Then I had Baby Boy #2. Then I went back to work. Then we moved. Then I started taking graduate classes. Then we moved again. And I found myself saying over and over again, "Next month, I'll have more time....for writing, critiquing, reading your manuscripts, and blogging." But every month, something new pops up and that anticipated time disappears. It literally vanishes - swallowed whole, most likely, by evil little gremlins who can be blamed for everything. (In this particular case, the evil little gremlins are NOT my two baby boys, who sometimes act like evil little gremlins).

So my conclusion is giving in....Right now, responsibilities and family time (something I'm never willing to sacrifice) take precedence. I'll squeeze the writing in when I can, but that probably means pulling back on some other things....like blogging regularly - at least for now. And that is what I'm insecure about. I hope I can be that distant friend that you hear from every now and again but don't wholly give up on. I hope that when life settles down - surely in a few more months, right? - I'll continue bumping into you regularly. Until then, have a happy 4th of July - my favorite holiday.

IWSG and I'm Thankful For My Readers Blog Hops

I like to end on a positive. Because of it, let's start with Insecure Writer's Support Group.

This month marks the end of an era. After Thanksgiving, my maternity leave is officially over, and I return to work. My writing time has already deteriorated...and I'm mostly okay with that. My boys are my first priority and they've needed me these past few months. Not only have they needed me, I've loved my time with them. But once I return to work, what happens to my writing time then? What happens to blogging or critiquing or the pursuit of something I love and believe in and want to be good and successful at? (We're ignoring the horrible grammar in that last sentence.) Time is already limited. What will happen to it once I return to work?

(and now for my lame attempt at a natural transition between the two blog hops)

Blogging and visiting blogs has already taken quite a hit these last few months as life has gotten busier and of course, more beautiful. I'm so thankful to those of you who have stuck with me. I'm thankful for those of you who read my posts and leave comments. I'm thankful to those of you that I email weekly. I'm thankful for so many other writers, moms, teachers, Packer fans, NICU survivors and parents, Chicago residents, Ohio residents that I've connected with at some point this year. I've never believed I would feel like I'd developed relationships through this crazy blogging thing we do.

I'm thankful for my CPs and Beta readers - those who have kicked my ass with a 10 page critique, those who have read the whole damn thing, those who have volunteered to read it, and those who have read the same first chapter 642 times for every time I've rewritten it. I hate to name names....I feel like I'm going to leave someone out and I'm terribly nervous about it...but a special thanks to CPs and Betas Neil, Patrick, Dahlia, Carmen, Hope and Ryan. All of you are such amazing writers - thank you for the encouragement, the feedback and sometimes the smacking around you've given me and my MS.

Last but not least, I'm incredibly thankful for my real life friends and family who have no real interest in the writing process but still read my blog anyway. Thanks Jackie, Trende and Mom. ;)

Thank you Vikki and Tara for this awesome blog hop!

So many people and things to be thankful for this year...Happy IWSG!