Monday, July 31, 2006
Well done, Donna!
Woohoo to Donna Alward who sold a book to Harlequin Romance! It's always good to hear about friends selling. You can read Donna's sale story on her blog which you can find by clicking on the link in my links on the right or by going here: http://www.donnaalward.blogspot.com/. I haven't figured out how to do links in my posts yet!
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Today I don't suck
Today is a good day. Today I don't suck. Today I am celebrating passing my May exams! The results arrived early, which was probably good because I would have been a nervous wreck today in anticipation of the results tomorrow. Instead, I'm surfing the internet and thinking about studying. I was a little shocked because I was convinced I'd failed one exam. I didn't! I passed them both! The coursework and study guides for those two courses were put away this morning!
Thursday, July 27, 2006
I suck
I was planning to blog about a story I read on the BBC this afternoon about a prisoner who has been blogging since going on the run. However, today's post brought with it some news which has me full of self pity and about to open a bottle of wine. So, if you want to read about the prisoner blogging since going on the run, go here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/5219716.stm. I tried to find her blog on my space but I'm new to my space so I don't really understand how it works or how to find someone on it. If you want to take part in my self pity, read on.
So, the dreaded envelope was waiting for me tonight. I knew one was due. Two or three even. The self addressed envelope. The letter from the editor who has read my ms and written to tell me that it sucked.
It sucked.
The letter said "while the characters ere interesting, we found the plot complicated and hard to follow."
Like all my mss, I loved that dam story. I don't think it sucked but then I'm not an editor.
The letter was from a US publisher. I had originally written the ms - called The Husband Hunt - with M&B's Tender line in mind. However, before I sent it, an editor there suggested I try writing something for the Modern Extra line because the Tender line was changing direction. So I never sent The Husband Hunt to them. I sent it to the US publisher instead. And they said it sucked.
Now, that wasn't what bothered me about the letter the most. The bit that bothered me was the bit that read "On behalf of X, I want to express my apologies for the amount of time you've been waiting for an answer on your manuscript."
OK, so The Husband Hunt was sent to X in June 2005 so I had been waiting just over a year but what bothered me was that X also received another ms of mine in DECEMBER 2004 which I still haven't heard back about. I know it was still there - and unread - at the beginning of July when I last checked. So why did I get a rejection letter for The Husband Hunt (submitted June 2005) before I heard about Just Pretending (aka The Italian's City Bride for those who might know it from it's first outing - submitted December 2004)??????
So I had to ring.
I rang.
And spoke to a lovely woman who was surprised I was asking about a 2004 ms. There was nothing on their database about my ms having been read but she was sure they had cleared everything from 2004 so she asked me to wait while she checked where the submissions are kept. Minutes later she was back. My ms wasn't there. Maybe my letter is on the way, she suggested. Or maybe it had been lost. Wait two weeks, she said, and if your letter hasn't turned up, send your ms in again with a letter explaining what has happened.
Now, I'm not being optimistic. I think the letter has been written and it's either been lost - along with all the other post I was expecting in the last 10 days that has mysteriously disappeared - or it's still on it's way.
So, I don't just suck once. I suck twice today.
For just a tiny second, I thought it was time to give up. Why waste my time writing when I'm obviously no good at it? But then I thought about my new ms. It's called How to Marry a Prince. It's aimed at Modern Extra. I've got names for the two central characters and I have a plot. They want their story to be written. So I'll write it and then maybe I'll give up. Or maybe not.
I think my wine is calling me.
So, the dreaded envelope was waiting for me tonight. I knew one was due. Two or three even. The self addressed envelope. The letter from the editor who has read my ms and written to tell me that it sucked.
It sucked.
The letter said "while the characters ere interesting, we found the plot complicated and hard to follow."
Like all my mss, I loved that dam story. I don't think it sucked but then I'm not an editor.
The letter was from a US publisher. I had originally written the ms - called The Husband Hunt - with M&B's Tender line in mind. However, before I sent it, an editor there suggested I try writing something for the Modern Extra line because the Tender line was changing direction. So I never sent The Husband Hunt to them. I sent it to the US publisher instead. And they said it sucked.
Now, that wasn't what bothered me about the letter the most. The bit that bothered me was the bit that read "On behalf of X, I want to express my apologies for the amount of time you've been waiting for an answer on your manuscript."
OK, so The Husband Hunt was sent to X in June 2005 so I had been waiting just over a year but what bothered me was that X also received another ms of mine in DECEMBER 2004 which I still haven't heard back about. I know it was still there - and unread - at the beginning of July when I last checked. So why did I get a rejection letter for The Husband Hunt (submitted June 2005) before I heard about Just Pretending (aka The Italian's City Bride for those who might know it from it's first outing - submitted December 2004)??????
So I had to ring.
I rang.
And spoke to a lovely woman who was surprised I was asking about a 2004 ms. There was nothing on their database about my ms having been read but she was sure they had cleared everything from 2004 so she asked me to wait while she checked where the submissions are kept. Minutes later she was back. My ms wasn't there. Maybe my letter is on the way, she suggested. Or maybe it had been lost. Wait two weeks, she said, and if your letter hasn't turned up, send your ms in again with a letter explaining what has happened.
Now, I'm not being optimistic. I think the letter has been written and it's either been lost - along with all the other post I was expecting in the last 10 days that has mysteriously disappeared - or it's still on it's way.
So, I don't just suck once. I suck twice today.
For just a tiny second, I thought it was time to give up. Why waste my time writing when I'm obviously no good at it? But then I thought about my new ms. It's called How to Marry a Prince. It's aimed at Modern Extra. I've got names for the two central characters and I have a plot. They want their story to be written. So I'll write it and then maybe I'll give up. Or maybe not.
I think my wine is calling me.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Belle de Jour and La Petite Anglaise
I was surprised to find I had two comments on my previous post when I logged in tonight. Surprised because I hadn't told a single soul that I was blogging again. And yet two friends found me.
Apparently I was found through something called a site meter. Right now, I have no idea what that means. Amanda Ashby was checking her site meter, saw my site listed and followed the link. Sara Hantz says it's like big brother.
Big brother is one of the reasons I'm blogging under an assumed name. Previously, all anyone who knew me had to do was type my name into goggle and my blog and website was right at the top of the results. I'm told that's because I blogged so often that google liked me. While this was good when I was blogged about writing things, it wasn't so good when I was moaning about work things.
Blogging about work - even anonymously - is dangerous. Just this week I read about a London woman living in Paris who was fired when her employer found out she had a blog. She never used her name on her blog.
I suspect her site stats have gone through the roof in recent weeks as the world has been reading about her plight in newspapers, online news sites and now on blogs. I've been there - her site is http://www.petiteanglaise.com - and I'll be going back when I have time to read more about her life because what I've read so far was dammed funny!
This is how she describes herself: "After living 'in sin' for 8 years, I left my partner for a man I met on my blog. I now live alone with my daughter Tadpole; her daddy, Mr Frog, lives nearby."
One post I read - prior to her leaving Mr Frog - talks about the funny moments they shared as they stumbled through the language barrier. One thing I recall in particular was her description of a telephone conversation Mr Frog had with her mother. Her mother had called to ask what Mr Frog would like for his birthday. Handcuffs, he replied. He meant cuff links! Imagine trying to explain that one to your mother!
Another site I've visited in the last week outside of my usual writing loop is http://belledejour-uk.blogspot.com - diary of a London call girl. I went there after a conversation with my husband about something he calls "bliction". I think he described it as a blog that tells a fictional story in real time. Belle de Jour came into the conversation because nobody is really sure if the blog is real or not. Belle de Jour published a book last September which was basically her blog with more information added, so I'm told, and prior to publication, everyone thought Belle's identify would be revealed. There is another book out this September which details her life since the first book was published. Belle de Jour is still anonymous.
Even the BBC are blogging now. The Editors can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors. I particularly like the posts by Daniel Pearl, deputy editor of Newsnight. He recently wrote a big brother type "we're watching you" post which you can read here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2006/07/were_watching_you.html. Hilarious! I can't comprehend that people who blog don't expect others to read it. I don't expect hundreds of people to be popping by here on a daily basis but I was constantly surprised by the searches that people did that brought them to my original blog. Then again, I did talk about so many different things!
I'd love to stay and chat more but the list of blogs I have to check each night is growing daily - and I still have to find time to study and write!
Apparently I was found through something called a site meter. Right now, I have no idea what that means. Amanda Ashby was checking her site meter, saw my site listed and followed the link. Sara Hantz says it's like big brother.
Big brother is one of the reasons I'm blogging under an assumed name. Previously, all anyone who knew me had to do was type my name into goggle and my blog and website was right at the top of the results. I'm told that's because I blogged so often that google liked me. While this was good when I was blogged about writing things, it wasn't so good when I was moaning about work things.
Blogging about work - even anonymously - is dangerous. Just this week I read about a London woman living in Paris who was fired when her employer found out she had a blog. She never used her name on her blog.
I suspect her site stats have gone through the roof in recent weeks as the world has been reading about her plight in newspapers, online news sites and now on blogs. I've been there - her site is http://www.petiteanglaise.com - and I'll be going back when I have time to read more about her life because what I've read so far was dammed funny!
This is how she describes herself: "After living 'in sin' for 8 years, I left my partner for a man I met on my blog. I now live alone with my daughter Tadpole; her daddy, Mr Frog, lives nearby."
One post I read - prior to her leaving Mr Frog - talks about the funny moments they shared as they stumbled through the language barrier. One thing I recall in particular was her description of a telephone conversation Mr Frog had with her mother. Her mother had called to ask what Mr Frog would like for his birthday. Handcuffs, he replied. He meant cuff links! Imagine trying to explain that one to your mother!
Another site I've visited in the last week outside of my usual writing loop is http://belledejour-uk.blogspot.com - diary of a London call girl. I went there after a conversation with my husband about something he calls "bliction". I think he described it as a blog that tells a fictional story in real time. Belle de Jour came into the conversation because nobody is really sure if the blog is real or not. Belle de Jour published a book last September which was basically her blog with more information added, so I'm told, and prior to publication, everyone thought Belle's identify would be revealed. There is another book out this September which details her life since the first book was published. Belle de Jour is still anonymous.
Even the BBC are blogging now. The Editors can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors. I particularly like the posts by Daniel Pearl, deputy editor of Newsnight. He recently wrote a big brother type "we're watching you" post which you can read here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2006/07/were_watching_you.html. Hilarious! I can't comprehend that people who blog don't expect others to read it. I don't expect hundreds of people to be popping by here on a daily basis but I was constantly surprised by the searches that people did that brought them to my original blog. Then again, I did talk about so many different things!
I'd love to stay and chat more but the list of blogs I have to check each night is growing daily - and I still have to find time to study and write!
Monday, July 24, 2006
Why Am I Here?
I'm here because I want to blog! I used to blog. In fact, I've had a blog for years under my real name but just recently I realised that blogging under my own name wasn't such a good idea. My colleagues all knew I had a blog. Any of them could have read it. I never actually mentioned where I worked or exactly what I did but...well, after a while I started to get paranoid. My posts were normally about every day life but then something happened at work which affected my every day life so I started mentioning it in my blog. Then my blog turned into a kind of daily moan about everything that I felt was unfair. Then, I stopped my blog. Partly because I was bored with hearing myself moan, partly because I'd lost the will to blog and partly because I changed jobs and was worried my new colleagues (who love to google everyone they come across) might read my blog, particularly if I was still moaning about work related issues.
Nearly five months on and I'm ready to blog again - but under an assumed name! So what am I going to blog about? Anything I feel like blogging about. I'm a writer so I'm bound to talk a lot about writing. I also like to talk about my favourite tv shows - Stargate, CSI, The Unit, 24, Battlestar and many, many more.
I might even talk about slightly more boring things like study because I sat an exam on Friday. Exam number five of 14. I think, no, I know, I mucked up 22% of it but I'm hoping I did OK in enough of the rest of it to pass. So far I've passed two. I get the results from the next two on August 1st and then the result from Friday in early September. I have two more exams in November, three in May 2007, two in summer 2007 and the final two in November 2007.
But for now, back to writing. I've been writing since 2001. So far, I've been aiming at Harlequin Mills & Boon but I also have several ideas for chick lit or mainstream novels down on paper and want to write a crime novel. I currently have three requested fulls sitting on editor's desks and I'm in a kind of no man's land - do I keep on writing what I've been writing for the last few years or is it time to try something different? I haven't had a form rejection letter from M&B yet (touch wood). So far I've had four full requests and each rejection has been a personal letter detailing exactly why the ms was rejected, and most importantly, each rejection has also included a comps slip with a request to send more directly to the same editor. So, she's seen something in my writing. She's been encouraging me. I appreciate that. But I've never actually written anything else. Maybe I'd get the same encouragement elsewhere, from publishing houses publishing a different genre.
It is said that you should write what you like to read. While I still like to read romances, recently I have found myself leaning more towards a kick ass type heroine - more like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum and JD Robb's Eve Dallas. So, I'm toying with the idea of writing that crime novel. I think I'll warm towards the idea even more in September when Janet's "How I Write" book comes out.
Until then, I'm happy playing with an idea for a Mills & Boon Modern Extra, just in case the editor who has my current requested full sends me another one of those comps slips that I'm told are like gold dust!
So, let's get writing!
Nearly five months on and I'm ready to blog again - but under an assumed name! So what am I going to blog about? Anything I feel like blogging about. I'm a writer so I'm bound to talk a lot about writing. I also like to talk about my favourite tv shows - Stargate, CSI, The Unit, 24, Battlestar and many, many more.
I might even talk about slightly more boring things like study because I sat an exam on Friday. Exam number five of 14. I think, no, I know, I mucked up 22% of it but I'm hoping I did OK in enough of the rest of it to pass. So far I've passed two. I get the results from the next two on August 1st and then the result from Friday in early September. I have two more exams in November, three in May 2007, two in summer 2007 and the final two in November 2007.
But for now, back to writing. I've been writing since 2001. So far, I've been aiming at Harlequin Mills & Boon but I also have several ideas for chick lit or mainstream novels down on paper and want to write a crime novel. I currently have three requested fulls sitting on editor's desks and I'm in a kind of no man's land - do I keep on writing what I've been writing for the last few years or is it time to try something different? I haven't had a form rejection letter from M&B yet (touch wood). So far I've had four full requests and each rejection has been a personal letter detailing exactly why the ms was rejected, and most importantly, each rejection has also included a comps slip with a request to send more directly to the same editor. So, she's seen something in my writing. She's been encouraging me. I appreciate that. But I've never actually written anything else. Maybe I'd get the same encouragement elsewhere, from publishing houses publishing a different genre.
It is said that you should write what you like to read. While I still like to read romances, recently I have found myself leaning more towards a kick ass type heroine - more like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum and JD Robb's Eve Dallas. So, I'm toying with the idea of writing that crime novel. I think I'll warm towards the idea even more in September when Janet's "How I Write" book comes out.
Until then, I'm happy playing with an idea for a Mills & Boon Modern Extra, just in case the editor who has my current requested full sends me another one of those comps slips that I'm told are like gold dust!
So, let's get writing!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)