That's a draft

Only 2.5 months after the end of NaNoWriMo, I reached the end of the first draft. It's a very drafty kind of first draft but it is finally finished.

My next step is going to be going back to the first book to finish revisions. Then I can come back to this one and fix the things that don't mesh with book 1. I also want to get back to working on the Chaos books.

Maybe I need to start scheduling these things.

That was quick

Received a rejection for the January 1 submission. I'm not surprised, really. I just wish it took a little longer before the stories came back home. Next week, I'll start looking at possible markets for the next submission.

I've finally broken 40,000 words on the paranormal romance. I should be able to wrap it all up in another 10,000 words. Then will come the rereading, revisions and revelations (aka the things I didn't realize I had included until the second or third time through).

Good-bye 2014

I had set writing goals (500 words most days, send 1 submission per month) for 2014. Those who occasionally drop by here will note the lack of updates. Well, I'm not going to make word count goals for this year. Those just set me up to fail. I'm going to try a project view instead.

First, the 2014 round-up.

2014
Submissions - 13
Acceptances - 0
Rejections - 12
Outstanding - 1- I'm waiting for more information before I talk about this one.

Revised - 2 spicy romance novels (1 - the paranormal - requires further revisions as I discovered a few things during the revision process that I hadn't realized) Both revisions took place during Camp NaNoWriMo months

New - 2/3rds of a new paranormal romance / 2 short stories

2015 Goals

Submissions - 1 per month (I have already sent out January's.)
Projects - complete first draft of in-progress romance
              - complete 2nd revision of paranormal romance
              - restart Chaos #1

My only other goal is the perennial 'update this blog more often'.

Thanks for stopping by.

October 14

Let's see. August's submission came back as did both of September's. I hadn't meant to send two but a computer/email glitch made me think the first one hadn't gone through. Thankfully I was smart enough to send a different story to the second market.

Today, I took a personal obligation day to extend the long weekend. I spent a few hours at the library and began a new short story for an upcoming anthology. Over 500 words for the day - a good start.

I also set up my fundraising page for NaNoWriMo. If you'd like to help them bring free creative writing programs to more than 2,500 classrooms, 206 international regions, and 650 community centers worldwide, here is my link. For my US friends, donations are tax-deductible.

July Round-up & August 1

A good chunk of July was eaten by a head cold. Well, the days were actually still there but I had almost no energy or creative power left after working the day job. However, in the end, I did accomplish what I set out to do.

July Stats:


Total Words - not all were new but 50,218 (winning Camp NaNoWriMo)
Completed - Another pass through the spicy shape-shifter romance novel
Submissions - 1
Rejections - 1
Outstanding Submissions - 2

August 1 and I have already sent out my submission for the month. Fantasy & Science Fiction is accepting electronic submissions until August 15. Why not try my luck? I doubt it will make a difference if I submitted today or in two weeks.

Camp Day 1

Well, I didn't write as many words as I had hoped today. In part, it has been very hot here - the humidity hasn't broken in a couple of days - so I haven't had a good night's sleep in a while.

But I did write. Tomorrow is questionable since I'm travelling but I will try to write while in transit.

Title - Beasties (needs a new title)
Words today - 1,653
Words total - 1,653
Music - fireworks, very close by

June Roundup

I returned home from vacation in May to the news my team was changing offices the night of my first day back. On one hand, it is great! I went from a 'three bus/10 minute walk/total of an hour' commute (or $25 cab ride) and working from home three days a week to a 'block & a half to the bus/5-8 minute ride/block to the office' commute. On the other, I'm still getting used to being in the office every day after almost two years of working from home.

It all boils down to not a lot of words or progress on the writing front this month. However, Camp NaNoWriMo begins tomorrow and I have great hope that I will rewrite the Beasties novel. Tomorrow is a holiday here, so I have plans to write a good chunk of the day.


June Stats:


Total Words - not many
Completed - nothing
Submissions - 1
Rejections - 1
Outstanding Submissions - 2
Days with writing related activity - not sure