Chick Lit Goddess

...because every author wants to feel like a goddess!

Archives for March 2011

Inspiring Blogs

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The carpet installers have been here for about an hour and a half, and while I have boxes behind me that are begging to be opened and glassware that is staring me in the face, I’m sitting here at my new kitchen island, reading writing blogs…though I know that I should be writing Book #2!

I’m wondering if it is really so bad that I’m reading instead of working, but I see it as being a kind of inspiration, maybe even a little nudge. I have come across some wonderful, inspiring and powerful blogs that all have one thing in common, they all make me want to write! I have learned a lot from these bloggers (whether they are authors, editors, or even book lovers). Since I have completed “Redefined Dreams,” I’m looking forward to maybe trying to go about Book #2 in a different way, who knows…

Moving Is Like Editing!

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This weekend, my husband and I moved, and we’re still packing from the old place and unpacking boxes at the new place. During the midst of this crazy and busy time, between breaks I am editing my book, and I’ve come to realize that editing is a lot like moving and versa.

Where do things go in the house? Where does that comma go in the story? Does this piece of furniture look better here, or does this sentence go better before or after this one? It’s all in a matter of organizing so that things are not cluttered, and about having nice flow. Editing, it gives me a slight relief from the stresses of seeing scattered boxes around the house. By unpacking, I am relieved from seeing the sentences I typed, as I shake my head wondering what I was thinking when I wrote that.

In the end, when both the house and book will are complete, it will be then that I can step back and look at something beautiful that has been created, each out of patience, care and of course, love…

I Might Have Found An Editor!

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Oh, the joys of finishing a book (GASP!), but then there’s the next step, finding an editor.  Where and how do you do this?  I had no idea, no idea at all, on how to do this, until I finally looked at something that had been staring me in the eye…for months.  One of the blogs that I frequent, which focuses on the Chick Lit genre, offers an editing service.  Duh! After filling out the required information, I felt very eager to get a reply back from the editor, and later that night, I did!  We’ve been e-mailing each other for the past few days, and today, she gave me her proposed price for editing my work!  I was overjoyed!  “Can this really be happening?”  I felt professional, it’s almost as if I’m a “real” writer.  If I do decided to have this editor edit my work, sending it to her will only be one step closer to being a Writer.

 

…Editing…

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Before I began editing on Tuesday, I printed out a page of editing symbols.  I was a little nervous at first, but I decided to just relax and take it word by word.  So far, I think it’s going pretty well.  The first paragraph took my twenty minutes, but after that, everything came together and it’s all I think about.  I decided to edit on paper, so when it’s all done, I’ll see if I still like it that way.  It’s funny, because when I’m not editing, that’s all I want to be doing!  I know that it will take a few weeks to get finished, but when I do, it’s going to be quite a change, one for the better!  I know I still have a lot to do and a lot to learn, but I’m ready for the challenge!

My 30th Birthday Present, My Book!

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The First Draft of My First Book

For my 30th birthday, my husband gave me the most special gift ever, my book in hardcover!  When I opened it, I immediately got chills.  Everything about it was perfect! I looked at him, and then back at the book, not really believing what he had given me.  I stood there in amazement as I flipped through the words that I had written and through the book I had finished only nine days before!  On the inside left cover, was what the book is about and one the inside right cover, there was my picture and a mini bio about me.

It had all become very clear as to why he pushed me to finish my first book, and I’m so glad he did!

Thank you, honey, for making my dream a reality of “publishing” my first draft…

The Pains After Writing A Book…

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So, as many of you already know, I finished my book twelve days ago (YAY), but I have yet to fully enjoy or believe that I have achieved such a thing.  When I wrote the words “THE END,” I remember thinking “Is it really over?” There weren’t loud cheers, I didn’t dance around the living room and there weren’t even tears…I was exhausted.  That night, I went to bed feeling complete, I was happy and I slept pretty well, only because my characters now had their own lives to live.  However, the next morning was a complete different story.  I woke up with a crick in my neck and my back and neck were so sore, that I could barely move.  “My book is horrible!  Everything has to be changed,” I told my husband as he got ready for work, and I sat there panicking!  He simply hugged me and said, that I’m probably right, but you’ve done it, and have achieved your goal.  I hugged him back with a slight chuckle, knowing he was right, and shortly after that, he left.  That whole day, I wanted and tried my best to be really proud of myself, to maybe have that really big cry, out of completely joy, and to feel complete.  It didn’t happen that day, or the day after.  My neck was still sore on Friday and my husband surprised me with my sister who had come in town, and the next night, a surprise party was thrown for my 30th!  Several people at the party knew I had finished the book and kept asking me about it, but what could I tell them?  I really couldn’t say anything about how excited I was, because I hadn’t experienced any type of emotion.

And still, to this day, I still don’t know what it’s like to have that glorifying moment.  My neck and back are still aching, and I’m literally exhausted!  It is my first day to get back to any kind of writing since I finished my book, and I’m thankful for allowing myself to take that time off, but I feel like I’m waiting for Mr. Writer’s Block to leave. (Is that a sign to start editing Book #1 and start Book #2?)

Here is an article that I found about the emotional sides after finishing a book.

In the end, I am very happy that I have completed something so wonderful.  I mean, how many people can say, “I have written a book!”

 

I WROTE A BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Less than five minutes ago, I finished writing what I hope will be my first book!  I’m still not knowing how or what to feel…I’m blank, or as an alias, known as “Exhausted.”

Now, my plan is to have two weeks off of writing — one week of doing nothing with the editing of this story, and then one week of beginning my second one, which I’ve already written the prologue to.

Life is awesome tonight…though I’m as nervous as hell!

Help, to those who have written a book — What does it feel like to you?

WRITERS: Are You Married To Your Spouse, Or Are You Married To Your Book?

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I could define Merriam-Webster’s definition of marriage, but not going to, because I disagree with their “definition” of marriage.  I think that one can be married to anything, just like it’s often hear that some people are “married to their jobs.”  I can see how that can be true, especially for a writer…but at the end of the day, you are also a husband or a wife.

ARE YOU MARRIED TO YOUR BOOK?

For some writers, I’ve heard that some feel like they are married to the book that they are writing.  I am about to finish writing what I hope will be my first, and I think that after having shared so much effort, time, drama, happy, sad, confusing experiences with it, I can’t help but feel married.  Isn’t that a lot like being really married?  My struggles that I have had with my book, I think make it stronger (and made me a little more frazzled), but that doesn’t mean that I don’t love it any less.  There have been nights where I’m listening to my husband snore and though as bad as it might be, all I can think about is the fight I’m having with my characters, but after sleeping on it, everything is better the next day..or at least after some time has gone by.

…OR ARE YOU MARRIED TO YOUR SPOUSE?

During the process of writing my book, there has been nobody else who has been as supportive as my husband.  He has pushed me to do things that I didn’t know I could do, and he believes in me more, as each day passes.  This journey has been amazing for both of us, especially with our communicating skills, as he shares his brilliant thoughts, comments or suggestions for my book.  He’s helped me on the days (and weeks) that I have literally stared at the computer, by having the confidence in me that I’ve needed to reach my goal.  I’ve only been married just of a year, but we were together for a longer time before that, so nothing is new about him, not even the annoying way he eats a cookie.  I love being married, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.  He is the one I vent to about my hardheaded characters, he’s the one who asks (on most days) if I have written, and it’s because of him that I can say, “I am a writer…and a wife!”

Why I Love AND Hate Writing At B&N

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Awhile ago, I posted two blogs that relate to this one.  Here they are Blog 1 and Blog 2.

When my husband suggested that we go to the bookstore on Saturday to work, it melted my heart, because I (usually) love writing in a place where I’m most comfortable and inspired.  Sadly, the bookstore was packed (though a great thing for B&N), so we came home.  I was fortunate to get some writing done, and even stayed up until 5:30 Sunday morning to write!

On Sunday morning, with the hubby at a friend’s house brewing beer, I decided to head to the bookstore to write.  I was disappointed when there wasn’t a place near a plug, but hey, at least I was there writing.  Finally, I saw two college-aged women who were sitting in a corner by a plug, start to pack up, so in the meantime, I gathered my stuff and waited for them to leave.  Ahh, finally, I thought, now I’m content. As time progressed, many people started filing in, which became very distracting, not because of the adults or whining babies, but because of the teenagers!  The Cafe in the B&N was crammed with cliquish teenagers who had brought their cool brand new (I’m assuming) laptops and were chugging down coffee, in the “Venti” size.  (Why don’t they just say large or extra-large?)  It was obvious that they were “working” on their assignments they had put off to the last minute, which of course, are due today.  It had turned into a teenage bar!  After trying to ignore them for half an hour, I couldn’t focus on my work, and decided to go back home, feeling disappointed and frustrated because I really hadn’t made any real progress.

Lesson to be learned:  If you plan on getting some work done on the weekends at B&N, just stay home, because you’ll definitely be more productive.  If you must work there, do it on a week day, because the kids are in school and or, are busy with other activities.