Distractions

Distractions, interruptions, commotion, whatever you want to call it must be dealt with with a firm hand. Or maybe just by using better organization skills. LOL As a writer, I find even the smallest thing can distract me. Like a phone call, or the mailman. So throw something big at me like a lost hamster for instance and we have major chaos not to mention complete and total mental shut down. No more muse. No more writing. No more anything, but searching and pleading for the little guy to "come out, come out where ever you are," and go back into his cozy cage.

After hours of searching, a restless night of getting up to check and see if he'd made it back to his cage so I could close the door before he got out again, and lots of strategy today I finally found him. Poor little guy had apparently entered an opened drawer on the bottom of my son's dresser and once the door was shut he was trapped. Boy was he happy to see me. LOL Probably not as happy as I was to see him. Oh, there is the tear factor to consider with my heartbroken son over the loss of his beloved pet. But all I could think of was this little critter getting stuck in my walls and what a smelly problem that could turn out to be.

All is well again in the house and I can finally sit back down and get busy finishing up my submission packet. yeah! :)

The joys of motherhood and writing. You know, I should write a book about that! LOL

Moving Right Along

Finished up the synopsis and first three chapters for my submission and now working on a query letter. It is so much easier to write a 300 page story than to sit down and try to compress the entire plot into a one sentence blurb or five page summary. Book reports back in school were easier than this. I have no idea why. I should and do know my story so much better than one I've read for enjoyment. Maybe that's why it is so hard. I know way too much! LOL

But at least it is looking really good for me to meet my goal on getting it sent out. Yeah! This feels so good! :)

"There is nothing to fear but fear itself!"
Say this over and over enough times and it really starts to work!

Nola Stars Conference

A few of my Everybody Needs A Little Romance Blogging Buddies!

What an amazing experience! From the moment I stepped into the lobby of the hotel to the time I left, I was surrounded by warm and friendly faces. I've decided that these smaller conferences might be better for me. The entire atmosphere was so much different from the National conference I attended in Dallas back in 2007. Instead of the hustle and bustle of hundreds of writers rushing around to find the next workshop or their pitch session, it was calm, inspiring and at almost every turn there was someone I knew. It felt more like a family reunion. LOL And what a great place to meet new friends.

It may have to do with the fact that the conference in Dallas was my first one and I'd only joined RWA that January. So needless to say, I was clueless about what to expect. Don't get me wrong, the one in Dallas was awesome as well and I learned more there than I had over the entire time I'd been writing on my own. But for me, being an introvert and shy on top of that, the smaller cozier conference made me feel more at home in my own skin. So much so, that my pitches went better than I could have hoped for. A big thanks to my new friend, Betsy St. Amant. Her support and encouragement before I pitched was the icing on the cake. Be sure and check out her books!
http://www.betsystamant.com/.

I had two pitches. One with an agent and one with an editor. Both requested to see more material. What more could I ask for! :) Oh, and I won a great critique package too!

Working hard to finish up my synopsis and polish those chapters till they sparkle and then I'll be sending out my baby. Gulp....I wonder if this part will ever get easier? :)

Betsy St. Amant

New Friends!

Kaye Dacus