As the new year starts, I’m looking at what I’ve accomplished in the old one. I’ve set aside revisions for my Mountie story to work on 2 anthology projects. Both projects are blessings by how I became a member, as well as because of the people involved:
1. The PE anthology: This was offered to me by my Inky sister, Gina Welborn when she realized she couldn’t participate. I’m grateful the other team members accepted me as Gina’s replacement. Because I’m unpubbed at this time, I’m required to submit a chapter so the proposed editor can ascertain if I can write and therefore fulfill my obligations. The status of this project: After writing, revising and rewriting, my chapter and synopsis is with the other team members awaiting critiques.
2. The MT anthology: My friend, Val Comer talked about this when we were at the ACFW conference together last Sept in St Louis, MO. I think she even asked me before that, but the team members weren’t confirmed until a week before Christmas. And with a Jan 8th date for submission, this project is moving fast. Set in Montana, this anthology also requires me to submit a chapter and synopsis. which I’m in the process of completing.
By next week I’ll have a choice: go back to revisions on my Mountie story, or start something new.
My Mountie story, The Key to His Heart, is a success of 2011. I belong to 2 writing groups who recognize writers for completing a book:
1. FinishTheBook is part of the Faith, Hope & Love (FHL) chapter of the Romance Writers of America (RWA) writing group. They offer a free 1 chapter critique to anyone finishing a book in that year. Last year, I won a free critique by Laurie Alice Eakes for finishing Emma’s Outlaw the year before. I used the free critique by sending the beginning of my Mountie story. The critique I received from Laurie Alice was sound advice which helped me in my contest placements. I’m waiting to see which author I’ve ‘won’ this year.
2. NovelTrack and NovelTrackEditing are part of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) group. Because I used both NT and NTE while writing my Mountie story, I was able to submit my name with the rest of the finishers, into a draw for a free registration (approx. $500) to the next ACFW conference. (Held in Dallas for 2013).
I’m eagerly awaiting the results.
My Mountie story did very well on the contest circuit this year:
2011 ACFW's Genesis: Semi-Finalist
2011 Fool For Love: 2nd place
2011 Duel on the Delta: 3rd place
2011 Daphne du Maurier: 5th place
On the agent front, I’m still waiting for an offer of representation although I’m in the process of wooing an agency. The word is that I’m on their ‘short list’ but that seems to be on hold. The current trend is for agents to ignore your query if they aren’t interested. But since I’ve been on hold for months, I’m beginning to wonder about my status. At the last ACFW conference in St Louis, Steve Laube of The Steve Laube Agency said there are some writers who produce good manuscripts, but he puts them aside – on a pile beside his desk - when a better manuscript comes along. He doesn’t want to reject the writer, but he doesn’t want to offer representation, either. So the file sits there. I’m beginning to think I’ve fallen onto that pile.
1. The PE anthology: This was offered to me by my Inky sister, Gina Welborn when she realized she couldn’t participate. I’m grateful the other team members accepted me as Gina’s replacement. Because I’m unpubbed at this time, I’m required to submit a chapter so the proposed editor can ascertain if I can write and therefore fulfill my obligations. The status of this project: After writing, revising and rewriting, my chapter and synopsis is with the other team members awaiting critiques.
2. The MT anthology: My friend, Val Comer talked about this when we were at the ACFW conference together last Sept in St Louis, MO. I think she even asked me before that, but the team members weren’t confirmed until a week before Christmas. And with a Jan 8th date for submission, this project is moving fast. Set in Montana, this anthology also requires me to submit a chapter and synopsis. which I’m in the process of completing.
By next week I’ll have a choice: go back to revisions on my Mountie story, or start something new.
My Mountie story, The Key to His Heart, is a success of 2011. I belong to 2 writing groups who recognize writers for completing a book:
1. FinishTheBook is part of the Faith, Hope & Love (FHL) chapter of the Romance Writers of America (RWA) writing group. They offer a free 1 chapter critique to anyone finishing a book in that year. Last year, I won a free critique by Laurie Alice Eakes for finishing Emma’s Outlaw the year before. I used the free critique by sending the beginning of my Mountie story. The critique I received from Laurie Alice was sound advice which helped me in my contest placements. I’m waiting to see which author I’ve ‘won’ this year.
2. NovelTrack and NovelTrackEditing are part of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) group. Because I used both NT and NTE while writing my Mountie story, I was able to submit my name with the rest of the finishers, into a draw for a free registration (approx. $500) to the next ACFW conference. (Held in Dallas for 2013).
I’m eagerly awaiting the results.
My Mountie story did very well on the contest circuit this year:
2011 ACFW's Genesis: Semi-Finalist
2011 Fool For Love: 2nd place
2011 Duel on the Delta: 3rd place
2011 Daphne du Maurier: 5th place
On the agent front, I’m still waiting for an offer of representation although I’m in the process of wooing an agency. The word is that I’m on their ‘short list’ but that seems to be on hold. The current trend is for agents to ignore your query if they aren’t interested. But since I’ve been on hold for months, I’m beginning to wonder about my status. At the last ACFW conference in St Louis, Steve Laube of The Steve Laube Agency said there are some writers who produce good manuscripts, but he puts them aside – on a pile beside his desk - when a better manuscript comes along. He doesn’t want to reject the writer, but he doesn’t want to offer representation, either. So the file sits there. I’m beginning to think I’ve fallen onto that pile.
