Priorities. . .

I have had my eyes opened, so to speak. I have been spending so much time on the internet just surfing that I am not writing. Yet to efficently market your book and make yourself appealing to publishers you should be well connected. This is quite a quandry, and in the wake of it, I have decided to do a few things. One, I will not leave my blog, (the last time I closed it I lost TONS of readers). Two, I will still remain on Facebook and Twitter. Just not as much. Third I will still read the blogs and hit the sites I deem important but again not as much.

Why? You ask? Because I am a writer. I need time to write, or edit, or market. I have dropped the ball and my other MS's are just sitting there. I am also planning on making it a priority to post here Monday's Wednesday's and Friday's. You'll still hear from me I promise. I'd like to have a theme on the days but I am afraid that if I pidgeon hole myself I will dry out the Muse. So we'll see. But rest asured I will talk more about why I write and what I am doing with my current works. I also have a STACK of books I need to review and I think I'll do those on Fridays.

So, look for me but assume if i'm not here I am writing. :)

The waiting game

So you all know about the requested manuscript, and the three chapter review, right?
Well these last few weeks have been insane. I sent emails to two readers and my editor to ask if they could um. . . Hurry? I recieved the two readers comments back for the MS, and have reworked the MS acording to thier suggestions. I re-wrote the first three chapters of the romance I was working on taking it from first person to third my preferred person. Then posted it on my crit board.

So now I wait, the edit should be here any day, it is finished and in the process of being snail mailed. And I am waiting for the crit board to get back to me on the romance. So I wait, and play with a YA paranormal that I had an idea for. And I wait, and I deep clean my kitchen, and I wait and I update my facebook status and I wait. . . . . Sigh. (this post is in no way meant to pressure those I am waiting on. . . )

Ten Things I Need. . .

To write.
Yeah, I got this idea from my friend Karen, and I am copying her. (she said I could)

So in true top ten style I will start with #10

10) Music. I don't always need it but on certain days I do. My first choice is my playlist HERE. second my plethra of CD's and even GASP cassette tapes. I do have some interesting things on my playlist so don't immediately write it off if you get something by Shirou Sagisu.



9)Dove Chocolates. MMMM the caramel ones are the best.



8)Spiral notebooks. I love the pastel ones with email icons on them. :),{}, <3, ;). I carry at least one in my bag at all times sometimes three.

















7)Places to store paper. Filing cabinets, book shelves, acordian files, need I say more?



6)Writing books. Dictionaly, thesarus, Strunk and White Elements of Style, Grammar books etc. etc. etc.





5)Printer. I kill my printers, they fear me when I am near. My BFF says they have coronary events and die.I prefer HP but will take just about anything. I also have to have ink cartrridges and ink refills too.



4)Reams of paper. Ask me what I got for christmas, comeon, its not hard to figure out. My hubby bought me a case of paper. (I got an SD card last year for Mother's day.)



3)Pens, I was converted to the RSVP pen by my best friend years ago. I love them and have a couple of unopened packages just incase.



2)My new Alphasmart Dana LOVE IT!!!!! Amazing tool great option for those who cant afford a laptop.














1)My laptop. I love it too. the poor thing is used and abused. But when it comes to hardcore writing or editing I prefer a computer.

HUH????

I just recieved rejection #17.

While the rest of the letter is really nice and positive, this phrase hit me like a brick in the head, and I'm still laying on the ground bleeding over it.

While there is no easy way to say this, I am afraid that we will have to pass on your manuscript. It's not quite right for us, considering we strictly publish sci-fi/horror/fantasy. Emergence doesn't really fit into any of those categories, seems to be more of a suspense thriller.

Emergence is not science fiction?????? Oookkkaaaayyyy????? What is it then? Granted there's a bit of steampunk, but my character likes old things. Theres not enough to call it steampunk either.

Somehow it will find its place in the world.

Question. . .

I sent a grammar and spelling fixed, rough draft, first chapter through the Virtual Editor. (See writing links in my sidebar.) I am happy to report that my passive voice is at 2.45% in rough draft stage. That is something I am extreemly proud of. I've worked hard training myself to write in active voice.

The question is how do you raise the "Reading Level" of your wirting? I'm not extreemely worried. I write at the level most people read but I wonder. What does it take to write at that higher level?

Opinions? Advise?

A Very Tristi Contest!

My wonderful friend Tristi is releasing a new series of mysteries, and to kick the whole thing off she is playing a game of online Clue. So follow the instructions below to find out who done it, where they did it, and with what. The prize is awesome so follow the clues to find out what happened and get entered in the drawing!


To celebrate the release of my new book, "Agent in Old Lace," I'm holding the coolest contest I've ever held! Because the book is a mystery novel, I'm sending you on a scavenger hunt all over the Internet. There are three sets of clues on sixteen websites. First, you must find them all. Then, you must arrange them into groups (they are labeled 1, 2, and 3 - that part's not so mysterious). Then you must decide what they are referring to. Remember the game "Clue," where you discovered that the culprit was Miss Scarlet, in the library, with the rope? You, too, must figure out who did it, where, and with what.

After you have obtained these clues, send me your answer at tristi AT tristipinkston.com with "contest" in the subject line. All correct answers will be entered into a drawing. And what does the lucky winner receive for all their hard work? A pretty cool prize!

This package contains a popcorn bowl, three flavors of popcorn, a $25.00 gift card to Blockbuster, and a copy of "Agent in Old Lace."

Are you all set to go? Are you rarin' to get ready?

Here are your clues. Each of the bloggers listed below can be found in the sidebar of my blog, either under the "If I'm Not Home, You Can Find Me Here" heading, or the "Or You Might Find Me Here" heading. You may need to do a little clicking and scrolling, but hey, to the victor go the spoils ... or, to the victor goes the cool prize.

"Who" Clues:

1. This blogger raises chickens and wrote "Lemon Tart."

2. This blogger runs marathons and wrote "Parenting the Ephraim's Child."

3. This blogger is a political activist and wrote "Out of the Shadows ... Into the Light."

4. This blogger makes pottery and wrote "False Pretenses."

5. This blogger was raised in a drug store and wrote "The Forgotten Warrior."


"Where" Clues:

1. This blogger was born overseas and wrote "Reasonable Doubt."

2. This blogger used to live in England and wrote "Please, No Zits."

3. This blogger wrote a darling picture book about Down Syndrome and is the author of "Heaven Scent."

4. This blogger is a former publisher and is the assistant manager at Provident Book.

5. This blogger feels like toast and wrote "The Santa Letters."


"With What" Clues:

1. This blogger founded ANWA and wrote "Trail of Storms."

2. This blogger is a seminary teacher and wrote "Powerful Tips for Powerful Teachers."

3. This blogger is addicted to peanut butter cups and wrote "Shadow of the Crown."

4. This blogger is a Whitney Award winner and wrote "Counting Stars."

5. This blogger is a nurse and wrote "Sharing Through Song."

6. This blogger is the Utah Best in State Award winner for Fiction, 2007, and wrote "Tower of Strength."

Okay! You've been given your directions. Visit the designated blogs and look for your clues. Your clues will be marked with this symbol:



You may need all the clues in that category to pinpoint the information you need. You have until May 30th at midnight send me an e-mail with your guess as to who, where, and with what. You can piece it all together by using the Internet as your guide. A hint ... on the "what," the first two clues tell you what brand, the second two clues tell you what kind, and the last clues tell you what item.

Good luck!!

And if all that wasn't cool enough ... check this out. I'm doing the launch party for my book at Provident Book in Pleasant Grove on June 6th. Come hang out with me!

If you would like to preorder a copy of "Agent in Old Lace," click here.

More good news?!?!?!

This saturday my dear husband drove me two hours to a writing workshop. (He is so supportive of me!) I saw friends and learned alot most of the clases were about marketing. There was a drawing for door prizes the grand prize being a three chapter review by Kirk Shaw of Covenant publishing. (BTW Kirk Rocks! He is so personable and friendly.)

Guess What?????

I WON!!!!

I can't believe the blessings I have recieved lately. I also got a Alphasmart Dana from my dear friend Karen.




So if I am scarce for a few days, weeks I am working on my MS and my three chapters!

Thank you everyone, I love you all.