60k / 60 days

There's this thread on the NaNo boards about a challenge called the 60k in 60 days challenge. It was supposed to start January 1st, but I didn't see that thread and the person who made this new thread didn't either. So it's from February 1st to March 31st, a total of 60 days. That's 1000 words a day! Not too bad. Less words a day than NaNo!

So, if it isn't obvious, I'm going to be joining in the fray! It'll be a nice kick in the bum to get my book done!

I can't wait!!

So, here's my word count bar. I'll try and make a smaller one for the side of the blog over there, somewhere. but for now, I like this one

In other news, I'M SO CLOSE TO GETTING MY NEW BANNER! I was going to wait to gush until the day i got the banner and put it up, but MY GOD! I love her art! I'm in love! And she's so professional, keeping up with showing me the progress, making sure I get it the way I want. Go check her site out now! Her name is Dominique Gammage and her art is so beautiful! Yes, I'm fan girling! Was introduced to her through my best friend's friend's little sister. You know what, just go check her out.

I can't wait to show you guys the new banner! Shouldn't be too long now! I am so excited!! *flails around* 

Okay, okay, enough for now. Good luck to all of you in your writing endeavors!

You guys doing any kind of writing challenges? Anything you want to brag about, like a new layout, new shirt, new anything?

Laters!

The best time to do stuff...

...is when you're trying to write.

Rejection!

I got a rejection letter. I actually got it back on the 11th but never shared it here. When I sent out my first round of queries, I only sent four. I got the first rejection letter two days later. I kind of wonder if they really read it, but oh well, I can't prove otherwise so I just have to believe.

It kind of stung but hey, did I really expect to get an agent right off the bat? I'm not THAT crazy! So it didn't sting so bad after that thought hit my mind. Doesn't mean it doesn't still suck.

But, a few years ago, I read Stephen King's On Writing. I'll say that this is the only writing book I really liked and could read without getting annoyed with the author telling me how to do what I do, but that's off topic. Anyhow, there was a part that really stuck out to me.

When I got the rejection slip from AHMM, I pounded a nail into the wall above the Webcor, wrote "Happy Stamps" on the rejection slip, and poked it onto the nail. ... By the time I was fourteen ... the nail on my wall would no longer support the weight of the rejection slips impaled upon it. I replaced the nail with a spike and went on writing. 

I loved the idea of that nail on the wall for all the rejection notes. I don't know if it was the thought of being able to see them and use them as a drive to keep on it, or the therapeutic aspect of stabbing the rejections on a nail that I liked, still have no idea which one. So I decided that when I got to the point of sending out queries, I would have my own nail.

Then, I found this on a site called pinterest:

 I saw that and I was like "Hey! I could totally make that into a rejection board! It'd look so cool!!"

So I did.

I love my little rejection board. I based the REJECTED stamp off of a picture I found on google images.

Here it is with my first rejection letter on it:

I think it looks so cool! And it's right above my head as I sit here on the couch. A lovely reminder. I will continue to print up  my rejections and stab them onto those nails until they get full. Then I'll tear them out and get longer nails. 

I'll post more pics as they fill up more.

And as a bit of a bonus, I found this kinda cool quote from MaryJanice Davidson (an author I really like) while I was looking for the quote I posted above:

"I've got a folder full of rejection slips that I keep. Know why? Because those same editors are now calling my agent hoping I'll write a book or novella for them. Things change. A rejection slip today might mean a frantic call to your agent in six months."

How do you guys deal with your rejection letters? Would you ever do anything like this?

Laters!

My baby

This is probably the deepest post  I will ever write.

I've always seen my manuscript as my baby, but I've always wanted to get it out there, too. To have it see the big wide world, have people enjoy its company, unable to leave it alone for longer than a trip to the bathroom. Hell, take it to the bathroom with them!

I am so proud of and in love with my manuscript.

Now, I've always thought I'd be a bad mom because I'd be too over protective, not wanting to let my kid go out alone, even when they were old enough. I know this because I act the same way with my brothers. They're 11 and 13 and the oldest is going out with friends and staying out for hours with them. it scares me. When they don't come home on time, I start to worry and freak.

I'm feeling this way about my novel right now.

I still want to send my baby out there. I've made it awesome, now it's time to be sent out there. I have the first round of query letters ready to send, but...

I'm afraid of my what will happen to my baby once I send those letters to the agents. The anticipation of whether they'll like it or not. Whether they'll want it or not.

Will they love it like I do?

Will they see the potential that I see in it?

What will happen?

That great unknown... The waiting through it for a reply.

I want them to love it!

I want them to see the wonderful that I see, that other's have seen!

All right.

Time to do what my best friend said: "Take a breath and hit send."

And then proceed to freak the freak out!

Ahhhh!!

I've been MIA for a while, and that's for a few reasons. One, I haven't really had anything to write about. And two, I've been editing like mad.

But I'm here to make a short post to announce something awesome:

I feel I've edited enough to start querying it. I have to write up the queries, etcetc. But zomg!!

I'm just kind of freaking out here!

In summary,

Laters!