Encouraging feedback

Finally! I got some much-needed feedback from an agent! Woo-hoo!!
No, it didn't come with a contract, but it came with some very nice comments and encouragement. I'm very grateful to her for taking the time to actually read my entire manuscript. And then to actually take the time to offer me some helpful, specific advice.
Yes, she pointed out some problems, some of them being simple technical errors that are easily fixed. Others involving craft that aren't quite so easy to fix. But it's enough to keep me going and keep me feeling like I can do this. She liked my voice, my characters, the story. But my favorite line is the one where she declares that I am a writer! :-) Oh, and I really like the part about sending her my next manuscript!
I've printed the email and will keep it close at hand, to be read and re-read whenever I feel discouraged.

Counting Words

Hit 35,000 words today on my current work in progress. Need to get to at least 80,000. So that means I'm almost half-way. I think that's a significant milestone. It's forward progress, anyway. I've got the basic storyline down and some key scenes. Now it's pulling it all together and filling in the blanks. Probably a couple more months of work ahead. Plugging along . . .

Good News/Bad News

I took another baby step this week toward my goal of becoming a published author. I was notified that I got my official RWA designation as a PRO. That's the good news. It means I'm recognized as a professional writer, someone who's out there pounding the pavement, so to speak (more like getting lost in cyberspace), to actively get something published. It also means that I can attend PRO-only workshops and events at conferences.
The bad news is that it means I've received at least one rejection letter to prove that I'm actually out there trying to sell something. I guess the other good news is that it also proves I have at least finished a manuscript. And that, in itself, is a very big step. A friend in my writing group told me that 99 percent of all author wannabees never actually finish a book!

Save Borders

I'm so disappointed that Borders is still struggling financially and talking about closing stores. Yes, Amazon is great. Barne's & Noble is nice. And I admit I shop the Half Price Bookstore. But I love Borders. I like the open atmosphere. It's so browse-able. And I can almost always find what I'm looking for. Hopefully, their internal restructuring will do the trick. But, we can help. Let's save Borders! I'm buying my next book there!

Up & Running

Hello, and welcome to my new blog!
I'm told a writer has to have a blog these days. So, I'm blogging, though I'm not sure exactly what I want to say or how I want to use this space, or whether anyone out there will care!

I write under several different pen names because I write in several different genres – so far those include children's, romance, women's lit, and nonfiction.

I've been writing in newspaper and corporate communications for years, but I'm just launching my career as an aspiring fiction author. I've been busy searching online sites and learning about the business. I've joined a writing group and writing organizations. I'm blogging, taking online workshops, and listening to recorded sessions from the RWA national convention, entering contests – oh, and trying to fit in a little writing as well!

Would love to have you "follow" me on my journey!