To all my fellow novice freelance writers out there.....Uggghhh!
What a week. I've been posting bids for jobs all week long with no response. Has anyone ever landed a job on Craig's List??
Also, my middle grade novel has hit a snag. Nice beginning, good ending, but the middle leaves much to be desired. It's just sort of laying there. I'm seriously considering changing the whole plot. It just needs to be different and exciting. I won't have to do anymore research, but this is seriously crunching my goal of being finished by Thanksgiving.
And finally...
You may remember that my last post included the query letter I'd sent to an agent. Well, after it was posted, my best friend in the whole wide world (HI, E!) was kind enough to point out that I had a spelling error in the very first sentence....yep, I misspelled the title of my own book.
UUuuuuggggh! Is that agent even going to read it? Probably not. Now what?? Do I send her another query? Do I wait 6 weeks to make sure she isn't going to respond? Or do I try another agent without waiting for her response? Anyone know the protocol here??
I'd get drunk, but I'm completely incapable of writing with a buzz!
Oh well. I think Viggo M.'s motto applies here:
Adapt And Overcome!
Showing posts with label book. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book. Show all posts
8.18.2008
Job Posting
I was thinking last night about how nice it would be to have someone to talk to about all this writing and publishing stuff. There isn't a writer's group in my area. I'm hoping to start one. Still, it would be nice to have one friend who's sort of "been-there-done-that". We could discuss rejection letters over coffee and critique manuscripts. I've heard that writing can be a lonely profession. Where do you go to find an author/mentor/friend? Perhaps I'll take out an ad on "CraigsList". It might read something like this:
Wanted - One Mentor
Fragile, burgeoning author seeks older, wiser, published author with a "never say die" attitude to act as a guide through the harsh wilderness known as"Becoming A Published Author".
Applicant must have enough publishing credits to make her worthy of my respect and admiration, but be down to earth enough for frequent & meaningful communications.
Must be able to "give-it-to-me-straight" when necessary. A Master's Degree in Encouragement 101 is required.
Applicants possessing secrets of the pro's will receive special consideration.
This position is open to experienced kindred spirits only. Fair weathered friends and social climbers need not apply.
This is a full time, life long position. Salary is $000,000 per year. Benefits are marginal.
Please send your resume, 5 references, your bio including photos, and a sample of your work relevant to this position.
If you can't get all that together, just start blogging here. X
Don't miss a thing. Subscribe to "Write On The Edge".
Wanted - One Mentor
Fragile, burgeoning author seeks older, wiser, published author with a "never say die" attitude to act as a guide through the harsh wilderness known as"Becoming A Published Author".
Applicant must have enough publishing credits to make her worthy of my respect and admiration, but be down to earth enough for frequent & meaningful communications.
Must be able to "give-it-to-me-straight" when necessary. A Master's Degree in Encouragement 101 is required.
Applicants possessing secrets of the pro's will receive special consideration.
This position is open to experienced kindred spirits only. Fair weathered friends and social climbers need not apply.
This is a full time, life long position. Salary is $000,000 per year. Benefits are marginal.
Please send your resume, 5 references, your bio including photos, and a sample of your work relevant to this position.
If you can't get all that together, just start blogging here. X
Don't miss a thing. Subscribe to "Write On The Edge".
8.14.2008
Miranda's Last Stand: A book review
I read this book today as research for the mid-grade novel I'm writing. Miranda's Last Stand is about a little girl and her mother who join Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. Miranda's father was killed in the Battle of Little Big Horn and, as a result, her mother can't stand Indians. However, there are Indians traveling with Wild Bill's show and Miranda and her mother must come to terms with that.
I read through it in about 3 hours and thoroughly enjoyed it. The author, Gloria Whelan, did a great job of depicting grief from a child's point of view. Gloria writes awesome word pictures without getting bogged down. The main story themes focus on forgiveness and seeing things from another persons perspective.
This book is set in 1876. The story I'm writing is set around 1837. I'm having trouble finding enough info about that time period. Will I have to change the date? That would screw with a couple of my subplot lines. We'll see.
I read through it in about 3 hours and thoroughly enjoyed it. The author, Gloria Whelan, did a great job of depicting grief from a child's point of view. Gloria writes awesome word pictures without getting bogged down. The main story themes focus on forgiveness and seeing things from another persons perspective.
This book is set in 1876. The story I'm writing is set around 1837. I'm having trouble finding enough info about that time period. Will I have to change the date? That would screw with a couple of my subplot lines. We'll see.
8.12.2008
New Children's Book In The Making
I've just begun working on a new book. It's a western/frontier novel for middle grade children. The title right now is Deep In The Heart. My first draft should be completed by Thanksgiving. Don't miss an update. Subscribe to Write On The Edge by clicking the "Don't Miss Out" button.
8.06.2008
Princess Minny's Next Adventure!
Our own perfect little Princess Minny set off on a new adventure today. She's heard about Dragonfly Publishing, Inc. Children's Picture Book Contest.
http://www.dragonflypubs.com/
Minny thinks her story is very entertaining. She has entered the contest. Hooray!
But she has to wait a long, long time before she can tell us if she's won. Dragonfly Publishing will announce the winners November 1st.
Princess Minny asks that everyone in the kingdom keep their fingers crossed!
http://www.dragonflypubs.com/
Minny thinks her story is very entertaining. She has entered the contest. Hooray!
But she has to wait a long, long time before she can tell us if she's won. Dragonfly Publishing will announce the winners November 1st.
Princess Minny asks that everyone in the kingdom keep their fingers crossed!
8.01.2008
Introducing Perfect Princess Minny
I would like to introduce you to Princess Minny. She is the one who started this whole freelance author adventure for me.
One night a while back,after Gwyni had gone to bed, I was lounging on the couch while my husband played video games. "Bored." I thought. I didn't want to watch tv. I had nothing interesting to read. As I sat there daydreaming, I began to visualize our visit to the zoo the day before. Gwyni had love the Arangutans.
Slowly at first, an idea for a children's story took shape. Soon, it had a plot and a flow to the story. So I put pen to paper and within 2 hours I'd written my first children's story.
Perfect Princess Minny is a about a little princess who is perfect at everything she does. One day she goes to the royal zoo, and sees the monkeys having a great time swinging and playing. She joins them for a day of rowdy swinging and rolling. And discovers that being perfect all the time isn't very fun. In the end, she gets to be a rowdy little kid for a while each day.
So today I made primped and polished Perfect Princess Minny, typed her a nice letter of introduction, and sent her out into the world to meet a couple of publishers.
Stay tuned for further updates on the trials and travels of Perfect Princess Minny!
Ta Ta!
One night a while back,after Gwyni had gone to bed, I was lounging on the couch while my husband played video games. "Bored." I thought. I didn't want to watch tv. I had nothing interesting to read. As I sat there daydreaming, I began to visualize our visit to the zoo the day before. Gwyni had love the Arangutans.
Slowly at first, an idea for a children's story took shape. Soon, it had a plot and a flow to the story. So I put pen to paper and within 2 hours I'd written my first children's story.
Perfect Princess Minny is a about a little princess who is perfect at everything she does. One day she goes to the royal zoo, and sees the monkeys having a great time swinging and playing. She joins them for a day of rowdy swinging and rolling. And discovers that being perfect all the time isn't very fun. In the end, she gets to be a rowdy little kid for a while each day.
So today I made primped and polished Perfect Princess Minny, typed her a nice letter of introduction, and sent her out into the world to meet a couple of publishers.
Stay tuned for further updates on the trials and travels of Perfect Princess Minny!
Ta Ta!
Paying gig
Hooray! I finished and submitted my 5 articles today. I'm really love freelancing. Gwyni spent the day with Nana and Pawpaw so that I could do the final editting and proofreading. It was all done before 2pm. Just 5 more articles next week and I'll officially be a paid freelance author!
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