Big stuff happening over here in Missy Lynn Land. Today I submitted my first official e-query to an agent at the top of my dream agent list. I have had the query written for about a month but was still making tweaks to the first chapter. Then I submitted the novel into the Amazon Breakthrough Novel contest and the timing just didn't seem right. Now I am attending the RT Booklover's convention and planning on meeting with Agents and Editors there too. Anyway, to make a long story short, I decided it was time to take the plunge. Hitting send was the hardest thing I've done thus far. And to make it worse this particular agent doesn't send rejections...so I have to wait a month or so and if I don't get a bite that means they are not interested.
Wish me luck. Lots of opportunity to make it pro this year. I have book two started and a YA in my back pocket.
Wicked Jungle
If you haven't checked out Wicked Jungle yet you should. It's a new online community for paranormal romance and urban fantasy readers and writers. Honestly, there's a little something for everyone.
For new and aspiring writers: The site is looking for flash fiction and short stories in the genre to publish. Payment is exposure only, but reprints are welcome. This means that fun little piece you wrote for character development, to test your writing muscles...you can submit that. Or the flash piece you shared on your website or blog last year, you can submit that too. Wicked Jungle wants fans of the genre to be able to find short fiction and discover new authors, especially while that author is in that illusive stage between having a contract and waiting for that book to hit shelves.
For published authors: Wicked Jungle wants to celebrate and promote your success. If you have a published novel on book shelves now they will happily post an excerpt and cover image to feature on the home page of the website. They also have a guest blog which you are welcome to use to post contests and give-aways around the time of your book release.
For fans: As if having access to new flash fiction and short stories in the genre weren't cool enough and the contests, guest blogs, and book excerpts weren't the cherry on your hot fudge sunday, we also have wicked awesome media for you to enjoy. There is an entire page devoted to videos and you can find all of our favorite book trailers in one central place. This is also home to their own video book reviews, author interviews and other Wicked Jungle goodies.
So head on over to WickedJungle.com now and check it out. Better yet recommend it to your friends and followers.
For new and aspiring writers: The site is looking for flash fiction and short stories in the genre to publish. Payment is exposure only, but reprints are welcome. This means that fun little piece you wrote for character development, to test your writing muscles...you can submit that. Or the flash piece you shared on your website or blog last year, you can submit that too. Wicked Jungle wants fans of the genre to be able to find short fiction and discover new authors, especially while that author is in that illusive stage between having a contract and waiting for that book to hit shelves.
For published authors: Wicked Jungle wants to celebrate and promote your success. If you have a published novel on book shelves now they will happily post an excerpt and cover image to feature on the home page of the website. They also have a guest blog which you are welcome to use to post contests and give-aways around the time of your book release.
For fans: As if having access to new flash fiction and short stories in the genre weren't cool enough and the contests, guest blogs, and book excerpts weren't the cherry on your hot fudge sunday, we also have wicked awesome media for you to enjoy. There is an entire page devoted to videos and you can find all of our favorite book trailers in one central place. This is also home to their own video book reviews, author interviews and other Wicked Jungle goodies.
So head on over to WickedJungle.com now and check it out. Better yet recommend it to your friends and followers.
The Olympic Games: Obsession or Passion??
The Winter Olympics are in full swing as I write this and I can't help reflecting on a comment my mother made some four or five months ago about obsession. I don't recall the entire situation. We were probably in the car, on our way home from the gym, and I was ranting about some new concept or idea I had. I was more than likely overly excited about it, as I tend to get when I think about all the possibilities for the future. Anyway she made a comment about my having an obsessive personality. I.e., when I fall in love with something new (a book, a fitness regimen, a skill or hobby) I like to learn as much as possible as quickly as possible. I recognize that I don't have the time or ability to be an expert at everything but there are a few things in my life that are huge priorities for me and thus I allow myself to be "obsessed".
My writing is one of those things. I have to make certain sacrifices for my writing. I don't have a life because most weekends are spent writing or doing something for my writing. I spend a lot of money to attend workshops and conventions where I can meet authors, agents, and editors. My mother doesn't get that. I buy a lot, I mean a lot, of books every year to support my fellow authors, to know the trends in publishing and make certain I am offering something fresh and new to the genre. My mom definitely doesn't understand that. In her mind, that is obsession.
But as I am watching the Olympic games and hearing the personal stories of the athletes who have triumphed to win a medal I realized that for some reason with Athletes it is different. Their whole life is often devoted to a certain sport. They have been playing that sport since they were a child. They are at the gym every day for hours at a time. Some of them were home schooled so that they could prioritize their training and travel schedule. Their parents paid money out the wazoo to get them lessons, coaches, equipment, training facilities etc... If that isn't obsession, I don't know what is.
I suppose the point I am trying to make is that maybe obsession isn't all that bad. What seems obsessive to one person may be passion, commitment, or dedication to another. You certainly can't be successful without any of those three things. I read an article a few years ago on what makes some people successful and others give up on their dreams and it stated that for most people it takes an average of 10 years for them to reach their dream. Business men, athletes, actors, writers...we don't start off at the top of our game. We put in a lot of long hours under the radar before we get our big break. People will call us obsessed, or worse just a dreamer. That is until we make it. Then people write books about how our passion and commitment. Oprah made a comment years ago about how luck is merely preparation meeting opportunity. I truly believe that. If you haven't put in the time and the effort, you can't take advantage of opportunities when they are presented to you. Those billion dollar actors didn't fall into those roles. Most of them spent years training, washing dishes, taking low wage hourly jobs before that lucky break came along and when it did, they were ready. We tend to forget that.
The reality is, most people look at the finished product, a person or business in their prime and think, I want to have the life that they have. The reality is, most of us aren't willing to do what they were willing to do to get there. Show me someone at the peak of their career and I will show you someone who was "obsessed".
My writing is one of those things. I have to make certain sacrifices for my writing. I don't have a life because most weekends are spent writing or doing something for my writing. I spend a lot of money to attend workshops and conventions where I can meet authors, agents, and editors. My mother doesn't get that. I buy a lot, I mean a lot, of books every year to support my fellow authors, to know the trends in publishing and make certain I am offering something fresh and new to the genre. My mom definitely doesn't understand that. In her mind, that is obsession.
But as I am watching the Olympic games and hearing the personal stories of the athletes who have triumphed to win a medal I realized that for some reason with Athletes it is different. Their whole life is often devoted to a certain sport. They have been playing that sport since they were a child. They are at the gym every day for hours at a time. Some of them were home schooled so that they could prioritize their training and travel schedule. Their parents paid money out the wazoo to get them lessons, coaches, equipment, training facilities etc... If that isn't obsession, I don't know what is.
I suppose the point I am trying to make is that maybe obsession isn't all that bad. What seems obsessive to one person may be passion, commitment, or dedication to another. You certainly can't be successful without any of those three things. I read an article a few years ago on what makes some people successful and others give up on their dreams and it stated that for most people it takes an average of 10 years for them to reach their dream. Business men, athletes, actors, writers...we don't start off at the top of our game. We put in a lot of long hours under the radar before we get our big break. People will call us obsessed, or worse just a dreamer. That is until we make it. Then people write books about how our passion and commitment. Oprah made a comment years ago about how luck is merely preparation meeting opportunity. I truly believe that. If you haven't put in the time and the effort, you can't take advantage of opportunities when they are presented to you. Those billion dollar actors didn't fall into those roles. Most of them spent years training, washing dishes, taking low wage hourly jobs before that lucky break came along and when it did, they were ready. We tend to forget that.
The reality is, most people look at the finished product, a person or business in their prime and think, I want to have the life that they have. The reality is, most of us aren't willing to do what they were willing to do to get there. Show me someone at the peak of their career and I will show you someone who was "obsessed".
Tax Gods are Good
The taxes are in and I'll give you five guesses on how I am going to spend my money! Yep. Macbook here I come! I've been waiting so very long for this day. For those of you who don't know, I have had nothing but problems with my computers the last three months. That combined with all the video editing and design I have been putting in for Wicked Jungle and I really need something that is going to be better suited to meet my needs. It may be a bunch of branding B.S. but I am converting over to Apple and me and my iPod, iPhone, and Macbook Pro will be one very, very, happy family. (PS, not sure if I will get the macbook pro. It all depends).
Stay tuned! Maybe I will do one last video with the old webcam to show off the new computer. :)
Stay tuned! Maybe I will do one last video with the old webcam to show off the new computer. :)
The White Death
Otherwise known as the winter of 2010, the White Death is clearly upon us. For those of you who don't know this about me, I hate snow. I hate it. I hate walking in it, I hate driving in it. I don't sled, skate, ski or snow board. I hate boots, gloves, hats and mittens. I absolutely cannot stand the way the bottom of your pant legs get wet when walking to or from the car. Or how your socks get wet when you do that delicate dance to try and remove both boots without getting snow on the carpet or falling on your A**. Yes. I hate the fluffy white stuff. I might get a little sentimental on Christmas morning or when I see a beautiful forest covered with glistening icicles or shimmering snowflakes. But that is about as far as my love goes.
Thus I am planning on relocating in the next five years (as soon as I can convince my very needy parents to retire) to somewhere sunny. I don't care if I have to live surrounded by blue-haired old ladies. Everyone has to make sacrifices. I don't particularly like hurricanes either...that makes me nervous, but I love water so I think I am going to have to get over that.
Here are some photos of the white death...which incidentally has been great for my productivity. Lots of writing, lots of work on my special project. It's too bad I work at home and don't get a snow day from my real job. :)
I hope spring comes early. I've got some serious cabin fever working.
Thus I am planning on relocating in the next five years (as soon as I can convince my very needy parents to retire) to somewhere sunny. I don't care if I have to live surrounded by blue-haired old ladies. Everyone has to make sacrifices. I don't particularly like hurricanes either...that makes me nervous, but I love water so I think I am going to have to get over that.
Here are some photos of the white death...which incidentally has been great for my productivity. Lots of writing, lots of work on my special project. It's too bad I work at home and don't get a snow day from my real job. :)
I hope spring comes early. I've got some serious cabin fever working.
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