August 17, 2010

First, let me begin with the age old "I have some good news, and some bad news." The odd thing is that what I'm going to share is both of those. Clyde is home, accompanied by a very nicely worded rejection letter from Candlewick Press. I would like to add that the letter left me thinking just as highly of Candlewick as a publisher as I did prior to querying them - which is pretty highly. From some of the rejection letters I've seen (both mine and my friend's) this says a lot about the company and the people who work there. I just want to share that because I think it's very important to point out when someone does something right instead of giving the attention to bad behavior. I still want to one day write something that will fit their list well, and intend to hold that as one of my goals.
So I took the time to sniffle and eat chocolate and get that part out of my system.
Now the important part: Why this is such a GOOD thing. Well, that's easy. It means that Clyde is back in my hot little hands. Let me tell you, I am MORE THAN READY to get her in her book! The butterflies have already started fluttering in the pit of my stomach; the list of editing checks has started rolling in my head; the last minute decision on who I'm going through for the physical book is about to be made. Clyde the Undead Dust Bunny is very, VERY close to being born. Just in time for Halloween too - what luck! Maybe that was her plan all along! Characters hijack the story and turn it to their will all the time, ask any writer. Maybe she also took the timing into her own hands. All I know is that I feel a huge sense of relief like someone moved a mountain out of the road I'm trying to go down, and I'm happy.
In smaller (but no less important) update type news: I decided I've got two characters who need to swap books. As I said, characters hijack stories all the time. These two just happened to decide that they would fit better in each others than in their own. Making that adjustment took up my 4 hours of writing time, but I'm counting it anyway. I've been stuck on both stories for a while, this may solve the problem. I did get all of the Sophie's Sneeze projects done and the September newsletter is ready and waiting for the end of September to go into the store.
With all of the real world stuff I've been doing this week, I'm rather happy with the literary progress.
Now it's time to go get ready for labor and delivery! I'm hoping to post price and ordering information by the end of next week! (happy dance!!!!!)

April 26, 2010

I've decided to switch up my goals just a little bit this week. Normally I focus on the literary stuff, but right now I've got a couple of projects that I'm either in the middle of or that have been put off for longer than I like. I've got one person to talk to about carrying Fiddlebug, and updates at various spots are underway (as you can see), plus I'm getting new business cards printed. Other than that I'd like to take a little breather from the book stuff and take care of a couple of Back Burner Projects.

First on my list is my laptop bag. (This is actually already underway.) In the spirit of being at least a little eco-friendly, I use an almost 17 year old Toshiba camcorder - you know, one of those big ones that took VHS tapes? - carrier for my laptop. Works out pretty great actually. Heck, my laptop is even a Toshiba so I look like I put effort into matching ! The only problem with the bag is that it's pretty hideous. Picture sun bleached, used to be gray canvas that has had more than it's share of oreo covered little hands on it; has been used as a cat bed; spent 5 years in a cabinet in the kitchen without seeing the light of day... Yeah, you're getting the picture now aren't you? Even Scott mentioned that it's pretty rough and I should get a new one. I like it though, it's just the right size for everything I lug around in it. Then it hit me - I'm an artist! DUH!!! So I decided to paint it. I gesso'd it - sort of like primer - just like canvas, and now I'm using old Artex (anyone remember this from the 70's?) paints thinned with paint thinner so I can work them with a brush instead of that roller ball thing they used to have going for them. (How I end up with the stuff I end up with is anyone's guess!) So far I'm LOVING the results. I'm hoping to finish it today if the weather stays good enough to get back in my tree house for a couple of hours. (Those paints really stink!)

Second on my list is to paint an old trunk that I had given to me. It's really solid, and the inner tray is even there and in good shape, but the outside has definitely seen better days. I'm not sure of what I'm going to use it for yet, but the extra storage space will come in handy here. Log houses just don't come with a lot of that as a general rule.

And that's my list for the week. I'd better get a move on with it too! See you Friday with the results!

A Place to Start (Dec. 28,2009)

I am lousy at time management - or maybe the truth is that I'm lousy at delegating, saying no, expecting other people to do their part without my supervision, and focusing on my own things. So I guess that makes me a micro-manager who doesn't have enough of her own time left to actually mange. Kind of sad when you think about it. What's worse is that I know I'm not alone in this. It's not limited to parents or spouses. It has nothing to do with being male or female. Age doesn't matter either. You only have to be human to enjoy this sense of being overwhelmingly behind.
All things considered I know this is not a healthy way for a person to be. So OF COURSE I've decided to add another thing to the Busywork List and start a blog. OF COURSE it's going to be the latest and greatest blog out there in cyberspace (well, at least the latest for about a nano-second) where I'm going to change the world. Hey, even if no one else out there reads it or joins in the fun, I'm here and if I flog myself hard enough I'll contribute and it will change me. Since I live in the world - it counts.
The purpose of this blog - affectionately called "On My Way to It" - is to help get goals a little more realistic, To Do Lists a tad bit more manageable, and possibly strike the flint to spark a light at the end of the tunnel for a few projects. the glory is that I don't care how big or small it is - progress is progress! It all adds up. Plus, venting is a good thing and I figure there is going to be quite a bit of that mixed in here.
Since I'm moving this from my Writer's Digest page and setting it up correctly instead of experimenting with keeping it going by comment instead of blog posts (failed lazy, space saver idea), I'll be (trying) to focus mainly on my various writing projects and marketing concerns that are floating around in my brain and struggling in and into reality. that doesn't mean this space needs to stay JUST about writing, and PLEASE, feel free to add - whether it's what you happen to be on your way to or some advice. I'd love to hear it. Life is such a great idea generator - share it all!