I went to my local RWA meeting last night. It was the first one I’ve been to in a long time. (I needed a break from the organization.) It was nice to see everyone.
Vicki Lewis Thompson was the main speaker. She talked about the difference between category and single title. She said the lines are blurring big time when it comes to content. I think we knew that, if you’ve bothered to listen to what editors are asking for now. She also talked about how easy it is to become homogenized while writing category. I understood exactly what she was talking about, but needless to say, this concerned me. She also spoke about the pace you have to keep while writing category, if you want to have a career.
Okay, I’ll admit that she scared me a bit. I see Jo’s and Alison’s writing schedule on their blogs and I find it daunting. I’m not sure if I could keep up at that level and I’d absolutely have to if I want to build a career at HQ.
Vicki also discussed a bit about branding. She’s doing a talk at another chapter next year, specifically on branding. I’d be interested in hearing that since she said that her ‘Nerd’ brand was an accident. She wants people to learn from her mistakes.
Which I suppose brings the conversation back to branding and building a career. What are you doing to brand your work, if anything? How are you planning your career? If you are not planning a career, are you playing with the shotgun method? (Firing at the wall to see what sticks) I know up until now I have done nothing but fire that shotgun. I must like the sound of the bang.
Archive for November, 2005
I’m playing with my new iPod nano, trying to figure out how to work this thing. It’s supposed to be easy to load songs and listen to music. It took me most of the evening to add my music library to iTunes. Apparently, you have to use the iTunes library holder thingy if you want to use an iPod. Sounds simple, eh? Snort! Rolling eyes.
I’ll give it one thing. It is slim and looks pretty cool. Now if only I can get the &$#@ thing to work. Grr…
What technical device/devices do you have a difficult time working?
I remember when EC was just a toddler. Boy has it grown. Soon it will be heading off to primary school, not wanting to hold my hand when I take it to the bus. Sniffle. They grow up so fast. *ggg*
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EC!!! May you keep going well into college. 
I did it! Not exactly how I’d planned, but I did it! I finished the first draft of the Blaze manuscript. Yippee!!! Yahoo!!! I feel like Daffy Duck when he bounces off the walls. I ended up writing 8525 words today. It’s a personal best for me. I was tempted to try to squeeze out 475 more, so that I’d reach 9K, but I smacked myself down before I could go for it. (Yes, I’m that obsessed with numbers when I write.)
I figured out that this week alone I’ve written over 20K. My brain hurts from all the thinking. There are four days left of November. For those participating in the NaNo (officially and unofficially), keep at it. You never know what a difference a day can make. 
I ate so much on Thanksgiving Day that I went out and joined a gym today. It’s not exactly like the big chain gyms. It’s called Shape Express and is a lot like Curves. I joined it for many reasons, the biggest being that I’m fat. *ggg* The secondary consideration was the fact that you can get a full workout there in thirty minutes. I like the idea of only having to exercise thirty minutes. Even if I choose to stay longer, I only HAVE to stay thirty minutes. Yes, I know it’s a psychological thing, but it works for me.
Actually, the people in the place seemed pretty nice. There weren’t the perfect bodied women running around talking about their fat thighs or big butts. I would’ve had to put them out of their misery had there been. (wg) Fingers crossed it’s the motivation I’ve been looking for.
I’m down to 49 pages on my book. Still hoping to finish by Sunday night. I need to have two tremendously big writing days. It’ll happen, if I want it bad enough. (Insert football grunts and yells here.:)
I hope everyone in the states is having a wonderful Thanksgiving Day filled with good fun, good company, and scrumptious food. We’re off to have dinner soon.
I just wanted to say how thankful I am for my online friends. You guys are the best. Your support has given me a sense of community that I didn’t have before. I feel honored that you choose to come by my blog with such regularity. Thank you all.
Did you notice the little orange XML box under my old ass photo? Yep, it’s official. I now have XML and Permalinks, so you can stop your torture now PBW. (wg)
I’m down to the last 55 pages of my Blaze. Everything is cruising along nicely…that is, it was until I realized that my choice of non-lethal weapons isn’t going to work on an airplane.
Let me explain, I need my heroine to shoot the hero in order to save his life. I don’t want him actually injured during this process, just temporarily downed. I thought rubber bullets were my answer since they’ll drop even the biggest guy, but it looks like that’s not the case. (There’s a very good chance they’d penetrate.) I’m trying not to panic, but my mind is a BLANK as to how to fix this problem.
Anyone out there have any ideas??? Help!!!
I’ve managed to write over 7500 words in the last two days. Writing on the Neo definitely makes a difference. I have 71 pages to go and then I’ll be finished with the first draft. Woo Hoo!!! (I’m trying to average 15 to 20 pages a day.) I am a tad concerned I’m going to run short page count wise, but I know I’ll make up for it in the edits. This book needs so much fleshing out and cleaning up that it’ll take at least twenty pages of editions to make it shine. I’m doing NaNo without even signing up. *ggg*
How is everyone else doing, now that we’re coming up on the end of the month? Are you making good progress? Bad progress? Have you changed direction? Let me know.
It has been a BUSY weekend at the Summers’ residence. We bought a car on Friday. (something that was desperately needed) We ran errands all day Saturday. (Did I mention that I wrote both days?) Today, we bought a credenza that we’ve been looking at for over a year. (We don’t move very fast on things.) Oh, and we went to see Harry Potter.
Now if you’re like me, you haven’t gotten around to reading the books yet. (ducking) Despite that minor descrepency, I do love the movies. This latest installment of Harry Potter reminds me of the Two Towers in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. (Yes, I know Harry Potter isn’t part of a trilogy.) Bear with me. The latest HP movie is a much darker film than the previous releases and ‘feels’ transitional like the TT. Things are bit bleak. Harry is growing angry and rightly so given all that’s happened to him to date. This movie has death, love, adventure, and most importantly, the loss of youth. No, I don’t mean the kids suddenly turn 25, but in the end you do get the distinct impression that they are no longer children. Somewhere along the line they’ve become young adults. This isn’t a bad thing, but it does leave a bittersweet taste in your mouth. One that lingers long after the lights in the theater brighten. I find myself yearning for something unattainable and missing the loss of innocence. If only there was true magic in the world, what a delightfully interesting planet this would be.
If you’re a fan of HP, this movie is not to be missed. If you’re not, what’s wrong with you? *ggg* As Damon Wayans used to say, “I give it two snaps and a twirl.”
I’ve had one busy, but eventful day. So much so, that I’m just now getting around to writing. It’ll be a miracle if I can pull off 500 words. The weekend’s not looking all that forgiving time wise. Grr…
I met a friend for breakfast today. It was nice to catch up over coffee and eggs. Afterwards, I returned home in time to receive a call from dh to tell me he was leaving work so we could go car shopping. (We’ve been sharing a car since 2002.) We bought used with low miles, so now I’m officially back to being a car owner. Yah!!!
On top of that, my AlphaSmart Neo arrived. It looks great and feels good to type on. I can’t wait to ‘test drive’ it. For those of you who followed my AlphaSmart debate, I went with the Neo because it has fewer distractions than the Dana and the screen is easier to read. Right now, I NEED fewer distractions.
Tomorrow, I have a hair appointment and with any luck we’ll be able to squeeze in Harry Potter. You didn’t really think I was going to miss opening weekend, did you? (wg)
