Chasing down dreams

So I've decided to create writing and publishing goals. This isn't a New Years resolution it's just something I decided to do in back in October. First my writing goal is to finish the Elemental Queen then merge it with In the Kingdom of Light and Dark to create Quercus (which is Latin for oak tree and that is the sisters pathway into this other world is an oak tree). This way I'll get the book length I need. I realize I'm not very good at trying to make a series. I'm more of a stand alone novelist. Most mg/ya novels seem to be series, which brings me to my next goal.

I decided to self-publish the Strange World of Neve Rimbel. Even though it's been rejected by every agent there is, I feel it's a really good story albeit on the short side (barely a hundred pages). Sometimes I feel you have to take destiny into your own hands. I been swimming in this sea of no for too long. The shore of yes is nowhere in sight. So I'm creating my own raft and swimming to the archipelago of do it yourself. My second manuscript also was getting the same treatment of no and never hearing anything (which is also a no). I just want to do what I love for a living and stop zombie walking through retail.

Zippy and Clover: Fabulous Girls

Chapter 1

Zippy and Clover: An Introduction

"Hullo there, my name's Zippy. Well my full name's Zipporah Anne Bell, But I like to be called Zippy. I'm thirteen years, twenty-three days, three months and four minutes old..."

"And I'm Clover, her best friend. Clover Green." The girl smiles wide as the sky into the camera.

"What are you doing?" Zippy pushes the power button. She frowns.

"Introducing myself." Clover smooths out the wrinkles in her shirt.

"Well you interrupted me."

"You were being verbose. Why can't you say you're thirteen. Folks don't care about how many nanoseconds you are. Hi, I'm Zippy. I'm Clover and we're fabulous girls entering eighth grade. And scene. Fade to black." Clover takes a bow.

"Um, Clover the camera isn't on."

Books

Well the year 2010 has been gone for a week now. In that year I read 66 books. An average of five to six a month, save July were I read only four. My favorite book I read was the Book Thief by Markus Zusak, it was richly descriptive and captivating also narrated by Death. One of my least favorite reads was actually two books, Whim of the Dragon, for a fantasy it wasn't that fantastical. The Girl with Glass Feet, it was a strange story but I was glad when it was over. So for 2011 I'm not going to keep track of how many books I read. I think I'll focus more on honing my writing skills and completing some manuscripts. Well to all my lack of followers, til next time.

The Write Stuff

Well it's the third day in November which happens to be National Novel Writing Month. But I won't be participating. I have to write at my own pace. Anyways, I'm currently working on a writing project. I'm really excited about the direction it's going. So many ideas are tumbling down my cerebral corridor. My goal for my project which is entitled The Elemental Queen is to have over a hundred pages. I'm really happy with this story. I'm just letting the ink flow and blocking the inner critic. I'll worrry about the revising and polishing later. Right now I'm just trying to turned my works-in-progress to complete manuscripts. To stop doubting my skills. And to believe in myself and innate talent. Happy writing.

Requested

I've been sending out queries of my middle-grade manuscript The Strange World of Neve Rimbel for the entire year, nobody ever reads anything but that one page summary. Well when I checked my e-mail yesterday in my inbox was a message saying Re: query. Usually those are always letdowns. "Sorry not for us." "Not right for our list." But someone actually requested the first chapter of my book. I am delighted. I know a rejection can follow. But it's nice to know that someone read a few pages before turning you down. So here's to hopefully having more people interested in reading the first chapter.

I won't wave the white flag on my dreams.

O, Muse, Where Art Thou?

Staring at blank pages, words slowly seep out. But wait they're all jumbled. Can't seem to capture what's in my mind's eye. All the books I read seem better than any idea I can conjure. Inspiration strikes! No that was only a chill that ran through my body. Something is missing. Hmmm, where is that muse of mine? Did my muse runaway? Or did some other scribe five finger discount my muse. I think I like to report a missing person because I won't be able to finish my novel until my muse comes back.