and head over to the minxes of romance for a chin wag about witchcraft.
And possibly other craft related stuff too.....
Sunday 15 August 2010
Thursday 12 August 2010
Fortune favours the brave
I'm not an especially brave person, so the idea of entering another Mills & Boon writing competition was always going to make me shudder like the cowardly lion. And if i'm totally honest, I'd sort of decided against it until I got my big old R last week - I guess I was more hopeful than I had grounds to be.
I've been thinking about the New Voices Comp quite a lot since that email hit my in-box. I've mulled it over, chatted about it with clever blog friends and family, and I *think* i've pep talked myself into entering again this year.
First and foremost for me, it's about being part of the experience.
I was extraordinarily fortunate to place last year, and since then i've worked my way through that manuscript to it's eventual end last week. It's been a consuming year of learning by my own mistakes, of discovering a huge passion for writing, and of trying (in vain) to cultivate some much needed patience.
I have no expectation of any success in this years comp, in fact if anything it's more a case of the opposite.
I am frightened that everyone will hate my sub and wonder how I ever placed previously.
But then that's that pesky lion speaking again isn't it? I'm trying to push him to the back of my mind and lock him away in a huge metal cage.
The fact is, I want to write for Mills & Boon just about more than I want anything else in the world.
And the other fact is that achieving that dream is damn hard, but then do the things you want in life ever come easy?
This competition is a truly fabulous way to get your work directly under the nose of the people who can actually make that happen.
It's a chance to develop and grow as a writer, and to get some valuable feedback from both the public and hopefully from an editor too.
How cool is that really?
As a result of last weeks R I'm in the process of preparing a new sub to send in to M&B, so entering the competition offers the otherwise impossible opportunity to have two subs in at the same time.
And that, my friends, is gold dust isn't it?
Someone smart advised me to treat the time as an aspiring romance writer like the worlds longest job interview, and to be successful you have to show commitment & tenacity.
Approach it with a business like attitude.
Give it your absolute best.
In other words - don't make like the lion.
This isn't the time to let nerves or fear of injured pride get in the way.
It's an amazing opportunity, one to grab with both hands.
So slay your lion, gather your courage, and grab, people.
GRAB!
I've been thinking about the New Voices Comp quite a lot since that email hit my in-box. I've mulled it over, chatted about it with clever blog friends and family, and I *think* i've pep talked myself into entering again this year.
First and foremost for me, it's about being part of the experience.
I was extraordinarily fortunate to place last year, and since then i've worked my way through that manuscript to it's eventual end last week. It's been a consuming year of learning by my own mistakes, of discovering a huge passion for writing, and of trying (in vain) to cultivate some much needed patience.
I have no expectation of any success in this years comp, in fact if anything it's more a case of the opposite.
I am frightened that everyone will hate my sub and wonder how I ever placed previously.
But then that's that pesky lion speaking again isn't it? I'm trying to push him to the back of my mind and lock him away in a huge metal cage.
The fact is, I want to write for Mills & Boon just about more than I want anything else in the world.
And the other fact is that achieving that dream is damn hard, but then do the things you want in life ever come easy?
This competition is a truly fabulous way to get your work directly under the nose of the people who can actually make that happen.
It's a chance to develop and grow as a writer, and to get some valuable feedback from both the public and hopefully from an editor too.
How cool is that really?
As a result of last weeks R I'm in the process of preparing a new sub to send in to M&B, so entering the competition offers the otherwise impossible opportunity to have two subs in at the same time.
And that, my friends, is gold dust isn't it?
Someone smart advised me to treat the time as an aspiring romance writer like the worlds longest job interview, and to be successful you have to show commitment & tenacity.
Approach it with a business like attitude.
Give it your absolute best.
In other words - don't make like the lion.
This isn't the time to let nerves or fear of injured pride get in the way.
It's an amazing opportunity, one to grab with both hands.
So slay your lion, gather your courage, and grab, people.
GRAB!
Friday 6 August 2010
A BIG Thank you
A BIG HUGE MASSIVE Thank you all so much for your lovely words of support and encouragement on my last post. You're all really fabulous buddies, and I know you understand how truly crappy R's feel better than anyone in my rl possibly could.
I've decided that the only way is up, and to that effect I've joined up with the Shirley Jump August workshop rather than sitting on my laurels and letting myself dwell. *Waves to Rach & Susan*
I can't lie, getting that R was pretty horrible. But I've read and re-read the email many times over, and every time it makes a little more sense. In truth, my ms just wasn't up to it.
There's alot more to writing for M&B than having a bit of a flair with words, and I have a heck of alot to learn about the craft before I'm going to be able to hit the mark.
But I'm gonna try to have some faith in myself - I can do this, I'm going to work harder and one day it won't be a rejection.
Cupcakes and champagne are on me, because it would certainly be a much lonelier road without the fantastic shoulders of my blog buddies to lean on. xxx
I've decided that the only way is up, and to that effect I've joined up with the Shirley Jump August workshop rather than sitting on my laurels and letting myself dwell. *Waves to Rach & Susan*
I can't lie, getting that R was pretty horrible. But I've read and re-read the email many times over, and every time it makes a little more sense. In truth, my ms just wasn't up to it.
There's alot more to writing for M&B than having a bit of a flair with words, and I have a heck of alot to learn about the craft before I'm going to be able to hit the mark.
But I'm gonna try to have some faith in myself - I can do this, I'm going to work harder and one day it won't be a rejection.
Cupcakes and champagne are on me, because it would certainly be a much lonelier road without the fantastic shoulders of my blog buddies to lean on. xxx
Wednesday 4 August 2010
Down but not out...
Heard back today on my full ms.
Big old R.
I can't lie, it hurt like... well, like only a rejection can, I guess.
I think i'd worked myself up into hoping for revisions, so to realise I was too far wide of the mark to warrant them was a good old wake up call.
Am feelin' really, really blue.
BUT - it was a really nice email, lots of detail and kind encouragement, and I know that after a couple of days sticking my bottom lip out and feeling sorry for myself, i'll pick myself up and keep on keeping on.
They have said I can send in something new, which is a relief of course and I'm very glad to not have had the door closed, but just for tonight I'm going to drink wine and throw myself a pity party.
Big thank you to the minxy girls for being fabulous shoulders.
Business as usual tomorrow though. When the going gets tough, and all that.
x
Big old R.
I can't lie, it hurt like... well, like only a rejection can, I guess.
I think i'd worked myself up into hoping for revisions, so to realise I was too far wide of the mark to warrant them was a good old wake up call.
Am feelin' really, really blue.
BUT - it was a really nice email, lots of detail and kind encouragement, and I know that after a couple of days sticking my bottom lip out and feeling sorry for myself, i'll pick myself up and keep on keeping on.
They have said I can send in something new, which is a relief of course and I'm very glad to not have had the door closed, but just for tonight I'm going to drink wine and throw myself a pity party.
Big thank you to the minxy girls for being fabulous shoulders.
Business as usual tomorrow though. When the going gets tough, and all that.
x
Sunday 1 August 2010
Not too proud to beg...
I'm doing my intro over on the minxes of romance today, and would love it if you would come and say Hi to stop me from looking like billy no mates.... please? Pretty please with a sparkly cherry on the top? You'll find other much more interesting stuff going on over there too if you stick around...
xx
xx
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
