A Skinny Slice of Humble Pie

Over a month ago, I sent the first 250 words of my novel to Janice Hardy's writing blog to go on her weekly feature "Real Life Diagnostics". This is where readers can send in a portion of their work-in-progress and ask how to improve the piece. I was emailed that it was in the queue and would be critiqued in a few weeks.

I felt pretty confident about this portion. I liked it, it sounded good, read good and was all bright and shiny. This was the third or fourth time I had sent in a piece and I knew my writing had improved. I was ready to recieve the accolades. Ha!

My bright, shiny beginning was posted for critique the day after I sent off my whole, entire manuscript to be critiqued. Oh, the irony!

Because, of course, my writing was not without flaws. Now, I did take some of comments offered with a grain of salt. But much of what was said gave me cause to think and reassess. And what Janice wrote up was good, solid advice.  Which meant that my writing was not as good and solid as I presumed. Ah, me!

So, I'm gonna let it all marinate for a little while (and see if there are anymore comments) and then do a rewrite later this week. See if I can get this baby a little more lean and precise. I don't want to hear the word "cliche" attached to my writing anymore.  Blegh!

Coming to the End

So...my big news of the week is:

I finished my novel!

Yay! 

Throw sparkly confetti and blow the noise-makers!

Actually, there are a few addendums I must mention to make this clear.

This is the end of the first book of my now trilogy entitled "The Chestnut Maid".

It was originally one huge monstrous thing, but I finally took the advice of several people (finally) and took a step back from my "baby" and assessed the situation. And they were right. It was one story, but it could be done in three books. 

(I think I dragged my feet so long because I didn't want to jump on the YA trilogy train just because it was popular.)

So, now "The Chestnut Maid" will be three books (as long as an agent and publishing house agree with me) and the first book is DONE!

I am sending it out this afternoon to be edited.

I know there are still things that must be addressed (still is a bit too long) and I need objective eyes to tell me if I've got the story arc right (now that I've chopped it in thirds) for THIS book and then of course typos and grammar and all the lovelies that I thought I did okay on, but know will be sprinkled through out the entire 325pages.

Hey, I just found three typos since I got it back from the printers. Eep!

But still, it is DONE!

It is FINISHED.

I have proclaimed  victory over the writer's nemesis, Procrastination, and I have fulfilled my destiny!

Okay, not quite, but I'm pretty happy with being able to say, I wrote a book. 

Not writing.

I dropped the i-n-g.

I wrote a book.

Okay, I'm gonna go join the real world now. But I just had to celebrate and pass on my news and share my happiness with you. 

Yay!

*dances around the room again*

The Generosity of Writers

I already wrote last week about writers who are donating their skills to raise money to build wells in Africa through Crits for Water. Here.

But today, I read about a wonderful and different generosity from James A. Owen, author and illustrator of Here There Be Dragons (and other wonderful books!).

He is also a gifted storyteller and popular school/library presenter. In his feedback from school and library staff, wanting a hard copy of all the inspirational stuff he said, he boiled down his presentation into a book, called Drawing Out the Dragons. In it, he tells his story and encourages others to live their dreams despite obstacles. But because there is so much red-tape when it comes to library funding and book buying, it still wasn't getting into as many hands as he had hoped. Even when librarians bought it with their own money, it couldn't be shelved because of regulations. So, he offered that any librarian could email him personally and he would send to them a downloadable copy and the rights to make a limited copies of his book. Can you believe that? There is is more at his website here. He even opened it up for five days back in February so that anyone could get a copy. Wow!

Just another example of his generosity. When a good friend and supporter of his author journey was diagnosed with cancer and was uninsured, he set up a fundraiser. Faith, "The Book Babe" was supported by dozens of authors and people in the publishing business giving away manuscripts and books and book related prizes to raise money so she could "afford" to have cancer. She is now in remission and continues to support authors in many ways. (I won a critique from her six months ago and had such good feedback including a wonderful phone call.)

What an amazing person! What a great group of people!

I am grateful to hear of such wonderful generosity in this world. There is so much out there that is brutal and tragic, but I believe that there is more good out there than there is evil. And if we can do our part and give a little to our family, our friends, our community and beyond, our eyes will be open to the loveliness that surrounds us and we will truly make this world a better place to live.

Love Her Mother

Just had to share this for Mother's Day!

So Sweet! I cried when I watched it a few days ago and promised myself to repost it today. Then I got the awesome gift of an afternoon nap and totally forgot about it until late. But here's my little bit of happiness I am sharing.

I am so glad to have a husband who loves me and demonstrates that to our children. I hope our sons grow to become good husbands and fathers as well.

I love my mom! She is amazing! Happy Mother's day to you, Mom! And to my sisters and sisters-in-law and all you wonderful women out there.

The hand that rocks the cradle has power and influence beyond imagination!

Cheers!

A Thousand Years

So, everyone has probably seen this, but I'm a little late to the game and I just discovered this Lyric video of A Thousand Years by Christina Perri.

These are beautiful words and I just couldn't help falling for the melody as well.

What makes it more meaningful is that it fits so very perfectly with the middle section of my YA Epic Love Story. Oh, my goodness! If I dared sending out spoilers, I would, just so I could emote fully on how beautifully this captures the love story that I am writing.

Sigh!

But instead, I will mention how this also is a beautiful reminder of my own love story...I love you, Mark! And how happy I am to be married to the man who loves me and promises to be with me for a thousand years and even more. 

Sigh!

Okay, and if you just want to hear the beautiful music without the words, you can check out The Piano Guys version here.... which is also absolutely gorgeous!

Happy sighing!

I Will Follow

Today is my one year anniversary of moving to Arkansas. It has been crazy, wonderful, difficult time. We miss our friends, our home, our church, our neighborhood in Virginia. There have been some really big changes in our lives. But there have been so many more Blessings. 

New friends, new home, family nearby, church nearby. Lots of wonderful blessings

Without meaning to pick it, this song came up on the CD player this morning, and it brought back so many memories. This was my theme song last year. I sang it at my going away party. 

I listened to it all winter before Mark got his job here in Arkansas. And I listened to it as he was here and I was in Virginia, getting ready for the move. It became my anthem, my shout of praise and trust, even when I wasn't sure how it was all going to work out.

I found this pretty acoustic version to share today, but the regular radio version by Chris Tomlin is out there and it is the one I know best. Sometimes I would turn up the volume and sing (almost shout) along with the words, convincing myself that I could trust God to lead me, that he had my best interests in mind. 

He did. 

Now I can say (or sing) with even more faith:

Where you go, I'll go.

Where you stay, I'll stay.

When you move, I'll move.

I will follow You.

I will follow You.

From Shannon Hale: Are you hardcore?

Wow! Just read the BEST blog from Shannon Hale, my favorite (living) author and had to share. This woman has done amazing things with the English language and folk/fairy tales. And she's a mom of four (one set of twins) and...dang it I am sooo jealous. Anyway, I 'll shut up. Just go read here:

squeetus: Are you hardcore?: