• Aidan Duty
• Trick or Treat
• The Bark

No writing tonight.

(Originally published at Anywhere Is…)

RULES FOR WRITING * subject to change

1. I must write something every single day. It can be a journal entry, a poem, or a novel. Email doesn’t count.
2. I must read the blogs of authors, agents, and other writers who inspire me at least once a week.
3. I must write from my heart, bugger what the market is like.
4. I must try to stop revising as I write. JUST WRITE, DAMMIT!
5. I must remember and LIVE by this quote by James Thurber: Don’t get it right, get it written.
6. I must not tell anyone about the projects I am working on. (It seems the second I tell someone, I lose all inspiration to continue).
7. I must not get discouraged as rejection after rejection pours in.
8. BELIEVE in myself and my writing.
9. BELIEVE in my dreams.
10. Work hard to make those dreams come true.

2005-2006 WRITING GOALS

1. Find a critique partner. (Renee laverick or Ivy swankivy? Anyone?)
2. Finish a novel by April or May of 2006.
3. Network more.
4. Refine my writing.
5. Learn as much as I can about writing, publishing, the market, and all that jazz.
6. Get an agent or a publisher.
7. Be the best I can be, then keep striving for more.

That is all.

(Originally published at Anywhere Is…)

Have you seen the cover for Sarah Dessen’s (writergrl) new book? It’s so pretty!!

I remember chatting on AIM with Lauren (laurenbarnholdt) months ago (has it been already that long?) and she and I were discussing book covers, what we wanted them to look like, what the market preferred, things of that sort. She actually has a concept/comp cover. My novel is still looking for an agent.

I can’t help but to get excited when I read the blogs of those authors. Sometimes I even get the crazy notion that one day I will be the one blogging about my cover. I will be able to say (so HAPPILY) “I am an author. Here is my book, go buy it! Support your local bookseller, go to Amazon, whatever. Just get it, read it, and love it. Then tell me how much you love it.”

So, I try to imagine what the cover will look like. If the editors will want to change the title. If I’ll EVER get an editor. But first, I need an agent. Will that ever happen?

Then a Voice whispers to me: “Wait. Be still and know that it will all be okay.”

The dream of being an author, seeing my work in print, selling books, and moving/impacting people with my writing seems totally far-fetched, but I just can’t give up on it. Not when I remember the feeling I get when I write something and write it with every fabric of my being, with every piece of my soul. Not when I read these blogs and think to myself “I can DO this too, I simply have to keep trying.” Not when there are characters in my mind kicking at the corners of my brain keeping me awake at night. Not when I read another YA novel (I have NO clue how many I’ve barrelled through this year alone!) and my heart starts beating again and I know, I know I have something to contribute to this market. Not when someone reads my work (whether it be a poem, a song, or a novel) and this person tells me she couldn’t put it down. (I got another compliment on my poem today. He told me it grabbed him and sucked him in. If any of you would like to read it, just let me know.)

So, I think I am going to redo my plan and attitude toward my writing. The novel I am shopping around now is long, especially for a YA novel. I am trying to get out of the mindset that every book I write needs to be that long. One would think this would make things a bit easier, right?

WRONG!!! But anyway…

I am revising the requirements. I don’t have to knock out 100,000 word novels every six months. Surely, I’d lose my mind, job, family…something, right?

It is important that I write everyday. Something, anything (OTHER THAN EMAILS!) Those of you who read this, feel free to kick me in the butt regarding my writing. Ultimately, I know it’s up to ME, but I’d love to have some accountability. We’ll see, I guess.

Off to do some photocopying now…

(Originally published at Anywhere Is…)