One Month left in 2011

Just checking in and hoping that lots and lots of my writing friends have submitted your writing projects for publication! I've been pushing for publication in 2011. So far I have not heard anything on two projects but still keeping my fingers crossed! How are you all doing?
No Matter What we can't give up. Keep writing and submitting. I also am wondering if anyone signed up for NANOWRIMO this year? Did you make the word count by the end of November?
Let's just inundate the publishing houses this month with as much of our writing as we can before the New Year! Then we'll see if we can submit more pieces in 2012 then we did in 2011.

Keep Writing and Keep Smiling!  : )

Writer's Digest Short Story Prompt Contest

Hi Everybody!  Yesterday I was reading my January 2012 issue of Writer's Digest. I read this months writer's prompt contest and decided to enter. Like I said ..., submit, submit, submit! The 750 word short story title is
I WENT TO A FUNERAL TODAY

 The prompt was  about going back to your childhood home and finding it's been condemned.

 As always, I'll let you know how it goes.  How are you all doing? We have a month and a half to get something submitted in 2011 so keep writing and keep smiling!     : )

NANOWRIMO 2011 is on!!

Hello Fellow Writers!  The month of November is National Novel Write in a month challenge. You spend the month challenging yourself to write a 50,000 word novel from beginning to end in one month. I enjoy this challenge very much! You don't get any actual prizes and you don't get any promises of publication or exposure but you DO get self satisfaction when you complete the challenge. Not only that but you also have the great beginning of a good project to work on over the next year. I wrote my first messy draft of the novel I mentioned in my previous post during a November NANO challenge. I've entered the NANOWRIMO challenge twice and both times I've successfully completed the challenge. I hope many more will enter and enjoy the craziness of it all! Especially if you sign up now you're already a few days behind! (That's how I did it last year and I also worked on the first draft of a YA novel. That is still in the first draft stage.)
I've chosen not to enter this month due to my health and other projects I'm pushing to complete. But I think it's a BLAST and I recommend it to anyone, especially those who start a novel but never can get themselves to finish!
Keep Smiling and Keep Writing and submitting!        : )

I FINALLY submitted my novel for consideration!!!

Hi Everyone! Despite the long gap in blogging, I have spent much time finishing the edits for my romance novel AND I submitted it on October 25, 2011~ The guide lines state if you don't hear anything in three months consider the story not what they are looking for at this time. I've added a blurb from my query letter to this post and any feedback to that is greatly appreciated!

COULDN'T LOVE THAT DOG MORE
BY Mary Staller

Set in the suburbs of Pennsylvania, my hero is a dedicated Veterinarian devoted to the animals in his clinic.  Abandoned by his first wife, he trusts only in the unconditional love from God's four legged creatures and turns his back on love of the two-legged kind.  My heroine fell hard for our hero three years earlier when he'd saved her puppy's life but he'd made it clear there was no future in loving him.  She'd been able to protect her heart until her precocious little dog became critically ill and again needed his expert skills.  With the addition of an ailing grandmother who adores the Veterinarian and wants him to marry her granddaughter before her time on earth runs out and the return of our heroine's younger brother, who can never say no to Gram, agrees to join forces to make an unlikely  matchmaking team.  Their determination to unite the couple makes for plenty of laughter, romance, tension and tears to keep the pages turning.

I'll let you know if.......I mean WHEN, I hear back! In the meantime, keep writing and submitting, we still have almost 2 months to submit in 2011.    KEEP SMILING!  : ) 

Edit, Edit and more editing........Page One........whew!

Time to catch you up! In between taking care of "Health Stuff" I've been working on the edits for my Romance Novel. I've gone through the entire novel a few times. Yet, I've been stuck back on page uno! I loved my opening paragraph when I originally wrote the story. But as time has gone on I've disliked it more and more. I have REVAMPED page one ..., AGAIN! I read an article in Writer's Digest magazine (love, love, love - Subscribe if you haven't already.) The article talked about cutting your first 3 paragraphs or more and you'll probably have a better "Opening" for any novel. That was not the first time I've read something like that. As I read over and over the first page of my novel, I felt that advice was right on! DONE! I am eomotionally ready to "submit" this story, let it go ... move on to another project.  I just wish I felt like the story was ready! I often wonder if any Authors feel as though their work is completely ready when we send it out. I'm working on the required 700 word synopsis and hope to let the story fly soon! I'll let you know!
Let me know how you are doing! Keep Writing and Keep Smiling!   : )

How are your submissions going?

Okay everyone, we are already half way through the month of June and worse news, we're halfway through  2011! I can't believe it! Time is flying by and summer fun will be keeping us outdoors and away from our keyboards. I'm sending out a pep talk to everyone to keep on writing and submitting! Submit, Submit, Submit! Let's Get Published!
  On Monday, I submitted a short story to the Senior Executive Editor of Red Room who has sent it out for consideration. As soon as I hear ..., whether good or bad, I'll let you all know. But I do want to say, whatever happens it felt AWESOME to send it out!  Now it's back to the EDITING process for my novel. It was good to take a break from the novel editing process to work on the short story. I needed a short break. I feel that my mind is in a better place now. I'm looking at the work with a fresh eye. Yesterday and today the corrections seemed to jump off the page. I highly recommend taking a break if you find yourself nodding off during revisions. (Not that I'm saying I did ....smiling....)
If you haven't been there before, check out www.redroom.com   Another great website for writers!
Keep Writing!  : )

Blog Recommendation For You!

  There is SO much to learn when it comes to writing. Especially now with the fast paced changing environment of e-publishing. 
There is an Author who writes an amazing blog that I have got to share with you. I've signed up to receive his blogs as an email.  His name is Nathan Bransford and he wrote a children's story. His main character is Jacob Wonderbar.
Nathan's blog is so so up-to-date informative. It is geared for writers of all genres.  Current events in the Writing World are all covered in his blogs. He does all of the "work" for us by finding all of this excellent material every aspiring author should read and puts it in one easy-to-read blog. I personally spend hours and I mean literally hours reading his blog and clicking on the links he's provided and learning from those as well.
I cannot stress enough the wide array of good data on EVERY aspect of writing that is covered on Nathan's blogs. I'd also like to send him a BIG thank you for making it easy for me to become educated!
I hope you all take a look! 
Keep Writing and Keep Smiling!  : )

MAKING time to write....are you a part timer or a full timer?

It's been almost a week since I've posted anything here or Written anything at all! I'm not sure why it is that life gets busy and writing gets put on the back burner. But unfortunately it does, not just for me but for most "Part-time" authors. Of course if we don't MAKE our writing a huge priority, we will ALWAYS be part time writers.....or regular people with Writing listed as a hobby!
I find myself in that predicament. I think about "writing and submitting" at least once a day!
I've found myself writing or doing something productive for my writing like research or organizing only twice a week over the month of May.   NOT ACCEPTABLE!  I need to get back on track beginning today!
How about You? 
Keep Smiling and Keep Writing!  : )

How are you all doing with SUBMITTING your work?

We're already 5 months into 2011 and I'm wondering if you all are Submitting your work?
Has anyone had any responses?  Good or Bad, I'd love to hear about it!

I've entered three writing contests. One, I didn't place and the other two are still pending.
I'm still working on the edits on my romance novel and I should be wrapping it up shortly. Then I DO plan to "put it out there!" Actually, I'm excited about it. I feel good about it.
The edits on my Young Adult novel have been put on hold until I finish the above project and get it SUBMITTED, then I will finish up that project.

As you can see, I'm feeling very motivated and wish the same for YOU!
Best Wishes and Keep Writing!  : )

So much going on in our Country!

God Bless the U.S.A.

Writing Contests

Today I entered an interesting writing contest. They are HINT stories. 25 words or less. You tell a story in 25 words that is a complete story and yet HINTS at a much bigger story. Very Cool and NOT near as easy as you would think!

Traditional Publishing -vs- E-Publishing?

Wow! I'm not sure about all of you ..., but I have been reading an enormous amount of information about on-line publishing and how it is affecting Authors, Publishers, Book Stores, etc.
 I feel a bit overwhelmed by all of the information. I am DETERMINED to submit, submit, submit!!! This is my year to give it my best shot!   So, I have decided to submit BOTH ways and see what types of responses come my way.  I will let you all know how things go.

What are YOUR thoughts on all of the hoopla going on right now?


Personally, I have mixed emotions....I feel a bit upset about people publishing for $.99 & $1.99. I feel it hurts ALL of us to put your hard work out there for so little. At the same time, I know for many people Writing is more a Business and the quicker they make money ...., well ......, In this economy can I blame them??? Aurgh! I find it so frustrating!
Keep Smiling and Keep Writing!   : )

Apologies......

I'd like to send out my apologies for not posting on a regular basis. I've been ill.
 I'm feeling better now and almost finished my "Doctoring" so I hope to get back on track!
 Take Care and Keep Writing!   : )

New Zealand and Japan EarthQuake Victims

Please join me in prayer for the survivors of these quakes.

Dear Lord,
Please grant comfort to Our Brothers and Sisters in need. Please see to the needs of the hungry and be merciful to the hurting. God Bless the souls of the missing and the deceased. Lord Hear our prayers in Jesus's name we pray.
Amen

Going Through the Old Files ....

  Hi ! I hope you all are doing great and feeling inspired and doing lots and lots of writing!
My Uncle is also doing some writing. He's been entering some short story writing contests. He's been sending me links so I can enter as well. I've been so wrapped up working on the edits for my novels that I couldn't wrap my mind around a story idea for the Short Story contest. So I thought I'd pull out the old files with writing ideas and see what I have started. This task has turned into a "walk down memory lane!" I have so many pieces of paper and want to read them all! Now instead of entering the short story contests, I've been cleaning house on my old files. It is also helping to refresh my memory on some of the old short stories I'd written for a Creative Writing Class. So far I've only come across one that I think has some potential. There are two in particular that I'm looking for but haven't found ..., yet!
     It's tough for me ..., one task seems to lead to another ..., and another ..., I started out editing my novel, got side-tracked by Uncle to short story contests, began to sort through old writing ...., decided to clean out the files to make room for new writing ..., came across clips from newspaper articles I'd written and began to organize them in a binder ....,  Do you see where I'm going with this?  And that is why I did NOT get anything submitted in 2010! After I write this post I plan to refocus my energy and GET SOMETHING ACCOMPLISHED!  Soooooooo....How's everyone else coming along on your quest to submit in 2011?
Keep smiling and Keep writing!        : )

 

Old Stuff!

Today I was cleaning out a closet in my parents home. I came across an old black tote bag with yellow handles. I remember a time when I'd used that tote bag to carry old copies of Writer's Digest Magazine that I hadn't had a chance to read. I pulled it out of the closet and unzipped the bag. To my surprise, instead of finding the old magazine issues, I found a copy of my Children's Book and a folder. In that folder were old story ideas, beginnings of stories and some assignments from a Creative Writing Class I'd taken quite a few years back.
I am excited to find this folder. I plan to get comfy in my favorite chair and go through the folder of goodies. There may be something in there that will spark my imagination and get me writing a new story! 
  I'm hoping I'll still come across those old copies of Writer's Digest Magazine because I always learn something new from them. Good Magazine to subscribe to as well as a great website! Take a look at writersdigest.com  when you have the chance!    Keep Smiling and Keep Writing!  : )  

So.....I'm thinking.......

I think I'm going to take a break from my novel edits for a few days and enter a couple of short story contests I've seen out here. Sometimes I think it's good to clear your head of what you're working on and wrap your mind around something else. When you're through you can go back to your current work with a fresh  open mind.
Keep Smiling!  : )

Keep On Writing!

Sometimes times get rough and you feel deflated.......take a day to sulk and feel bad if you need it and then.....get back to it!

It will all be worth it when someone reads what you have to say and likes it!!!
Keep Writing !   : )

Aurgh! I didn't make it ! ! !

The Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest stopped accepting entries in the General Fiction category. I read that at 11:22pm after working for the last 3 days and nights until the wee hours of the morning getting my final edits complete. I'd been checking back and forth because I knew they'd only accept the first 5,000 entries. I was about 10 minutes away from entering when I saw they'd "closed" it. They haven't closed the "Young Adult" entries yet, but my young adult novel is only 26,000 words and they have a 50,000 minimum word count.
I am extremely disappointed. I know they'll be more contests but for tonight............I'm crushed!

I'm working on writing contest entry!

I'm putting my blogging lessons on the back burner for just a couple of days. I'm working very hard editing a novel I wrote. It's called  "Couldn't Love That Dog More!"
I am preparing it to enter into a Writing Contest. The deadline is February 6th.  Please forgive me if I don't post as I should. I'll be back on track in a few days.

Keep Writing!   Wish Me Luck!          : )                         

Hello Reut & Zezebel!

Thank you so much for "following" my blog! I am really new to this site and blogging. I don't know how to move around easily. It takes me awhile to find out where I've been and how to get to you all and some of the other blogs and such. But I will figure it all out and get more comments and votes and follows to you all too!
  Thanks again and Keep Writing!   : )

Actually accomplished some editing tonight!

Hello to all of my Creative Friends!
 I'm happy to say that this evening I DID get some good editing time in. I worked this evening on my Young Adult story.  This is a story about a 16 yr. old girl who has had her drivers license for a month. While running a quick errand to the neighborhood store for her folks, she runs into the older brother of one of her best friends. He asks her to give him a ride and although he makes her nervous, she ends up giving him a ride because she doesn't know how she would explain to her girlfriend that she left her brother stranded at the store. Doing him a favor turns out to be a big mistake and she finds herself involved in a dangerous and life threatening situation.
I entered the Title and first 250 words of this novel in the Young Adult Novel Discovery contest. I'm hoping I'll place in the top five. (Winners will be announced during the first week of February.) If I do "place" I'll need to have this story in good shape. I wrote this story during the November Write A 50,000 word Novel in 30 days challenge, (NANOWRIMO).
Two writers sites to check out are www.lettersandlight.org
Another is Gotham Writer's Workshop. Google that and you'll find a school in New York which offers writing classes. They've got a great newsletter filled with great information as well as contest information I've read positive things about the school on the net but have not yet experienced their classes for myself so as in everything in life, check it out carefully yourself.
Keep Writing and Keep Smiling!

Writing/Editing or Blogging ???

When I started this New Blogging adventure, I thought I'd share my thoughts about the two writing projects I am currently working on, a romance novel and a Young Adult novel. Only problem is ..., I haven't written/edited a word on my novel projects over the past couple of days because I've been learning and working my way around the Blogs!  Don't get me wrong my new friends, I'm not complaining...I'm just explaining! I've jumped into this new adventure with both feet and I started two blogs out here on blogger.com and one new blog on Redroom.com. I've been a member of The Red Room since 2008 but I have been away for a long time. I'm just now familiarizing myself with them  again. (It's a Writer and Authors Website.) I have so much to learn about blogs. I'm fascinated with the amazing blogs I've been looking at over the last two days. They are so full of exciting news, comments and thoughts, pictures and help blogs etc., etc., etc.! I'm having such a good time out here that I'm not getting my work done. I love the writing and the editing process so I don't want anyone to think I'm procrastinating because I hate editing. I actually enjoy it. So I think tomorrow evening, I'll get some editing work accomplished BEFORE I even peek at my Blogs.
Thank you to those who have visited my Blogs and those who will come upon it in the future! Keep on Writing and Keep on Smiling!

Red Room - Writer's Website

I'm a member of the Red Room and I am back out there reading and learning. This week they are running a blog contest. Entries must be in by Friday. The prize is free attendance to the San Miguel Writers Conference. The blog topic is Favorite Writing Retreats. I would love to attend this conference so I jumped right in there and entered my blog. Why don't you too!

http://www.redroom.com/

Here We Go! Introducing Me!

Hello Everyone! My User name is FloridaBird. I got that because I've self-published  MEET SANDY GULL. This is a children's rhyming picture book. It is the first in a four book series. Each book is about friendship and a current problem or issue children will face at some point that tests friendships.  Each of the books features Mickey, a little boy and Sandy Gull. Sandy Gull is a Florida Bird  Each book introduces another character who will also be a Florida Bird. The lesson in this first book is Not Stealing.  The second book, (the manuscript is complete), is about Bullying. You can find MEET SANDY GULL on Amazon.com or on Trafford.com's bookstore.
 I enjoy writing Romance novels and am currently editing a novel I wrote during the 2008 NANOWRIMO Challenge. That is the National Write a Novel in a Month challenge that happens every November. It's quite a thrill to write 50,000 words in 30 days! I am going to SUBMIT this book hoping for Traditional Publishing. I am excited and feel very good about this manuscript.
I am also doing edits on a YA  manuscript I wrote during the 2010
NANOWRIMO Challenge. I also entered the first 250 words in a writing contest. I would be so thrilled if I "place" in the contest.
In the past I have done some Freelance writing for local newspapers on assignment and published a romance story in a magazine. So that is a bit about me and what I am doing right now with my writing! I would love to hear from others who are going to "Submit" their writing in 2011. I'd like to know how you are feeling, what your experiences are and it would be great to "follow" other writers on their journey toward Becoming a Published Author.