My year is up! Goal report.

A year ago, I set a goal: to give my all toward my writing career seeing that I got a windfall of hours due to my youngest finally heading to school full time.

I'd said if things don't go as I want, I'd consider heading to grad school (yes, I'd be completely out of my element... college was a loooong time ago.)

I started by entering the esteemed PitchWars with my YA, Mega Girl, again, this time a heavily revised version. It didn't makes it, but the encouraging letters made me think it's so darned close. So, I entered another, got lucky and got in. And wow, a few agents were intrigued. And the querying process began.

Then, I plotted a new YA, an upper YA... one I always wanted to write. Then for NaNoWriMo, I finished it in 18 days. Its temp title is Lotus Island. I get to tackle the first draft soon.

Then I returned to the previous year's NaNo... an NA, a category I had never written before, but after reading the NAs from many of my peers, I wanted to try. It was the most fun I'd ever had writing a manuscript. And I revised... and I had beta readers—fantastic beta readers... and I revised more. And I set a goal: to pitch it at my local RWA conference.

Meanwhile, Mega Girl's rejections started coming in in clumps... A few had interesting feedback, like it read young, it started in the wrong place, or it's a tough market (apparently a knack I have is picking the hardest market). Things like that. Some had the dreaded "dear author" which is one of the worst things to read when you're feeling puny.

I went to my first writer's retreat with some amazing writers who helped me in more ways than I imagined. (Can't wait until next year!)

Got a few more rejections and decided to take a Mega break.

And my NA got some love from a mentor in a new contest. That's right, what is now known as Nothing Ever Goes As Planned was liked, loved, by someone who wanted to take it under their wings! And the last near three months have been working toward that goal.

And now, I'm here a year later with three books, two completed and one just beginning. And funny enough, I'm entering Pitch Wars again too. Different story this time.

I've come full circle doing the exact same thing.

Nope, there's no publisher. No agent. No plans to self-publish yet.

Same spot, but I'm not in the same position. So far away...

So, I made that goal and then some. I've no plans to go to grad school anymore. I think I'm getting plenty of lessons from my tribe and betas and CPs without paying an arm and a leg.

I guess the point of the story is: Learn every day from yourself, others and you're richer for it.

Now to set up my next year's goals.

Fellow writer/Twitter love fest

Last year, I had a story I wanted to share. I shared it in Pitch Wars. It was enjoyed, but not enough. And it needed something more. Many tips and advice on it came my way.

So, I put it away and wrote a new story. And I fell in love with it.

Then, I decided to put that away so I could return to the old story and rewrite it. And I did.

This year, I decided to try to share it again.

This year it's stronger. This year I'm stronger.

How?

I listened. I read. I pondered. And I revised my ass off.

I follow a collection of amazing writers.

From a simple bit of advice of tense that helped their own novel to a day-by-day book plotting in a month to a short letter that told me what was missing from my MS, I've gotten the best bits.

Then, the critique partners I've met and came to trust my babies with have become a support group beyond what I could ever expect.

So, as I prepare to enter my second Pitch Wars with a new version of last year's story, I must make this post short. But I have a huge list of thank yous. And a lot of you already know who you are.

Pitch Wars Pimp my Bio!

Hello everyone! 

This is in response to the #pimpmybio for PITCH WARS, also known as the coolest opportunity for writers to get to know each other and work with pros in the biz. 

This is all due to Brenda Drake, who had this brilliant idea 

and has gotten to watch it blossom to the contest it is today. 

(She's an author herself and has a couple books 

THIEF OF LIES and TOUCHING FATE) coming out!)

And here are a few random facts about me, Ann Marjory K, other than being a YA and NA writer.

*I'm from Chicago!*

It's my hometown! My family and I live in the center of it. Steps from Soldier Field (I'm not a Bears fan, though), the Sears Tower (it's never going to be the Willis Tower to me), Lake Michigan 

and the coolest museums around. 

Look, you can see my house!

*Best Food Ever?*

Sushi! Gawd, just give it to me and I'm happy. I also get out-of-control cravings for Indian food and chips and salsa. Not to say I give in, I just crave them hard. 

Cute! And I will eat it all.

What I eat everyday? Sweet Potatoes. Blame my Whole 30 diet. 

Baked, roasted, mashed or topped with a dab of ghee, I love them.  

Nom.Nom. In many ways.

*Drinks!*

If I lived on coffee, tea and water, I'd be fine. I take my coffee black ever since my freshman year of college when I decided to check it out. All that cream and sugar get in the way of caffeine.

*Favorite all time books my MS is nothing like.*

I fell in love with 100 Years of Solitude and Wise Blood in college. The beautifully written, magical realism of 100 Years and the brilliant, unforgettable characters of Wise Blood will stay with me forever. I've yet to read their equals. Once every five years I'll pick them up. Matter of fact, I'm due.

*What I Read More Often*

Most of the time, I stick with YAs, NAs and some adult. I like fantasy, so long as it's light, but that's not to say I won't read a good fantasy like Lord of the Rings. I love contemporaries as well. And when there's humor, that' a bonus. 

When I need a break, I read a non-fiction something.. anything! 

*Stress relief, sewing, also known as the anti-writing*

When I need a break from writing, I turn to my sewing machine. I haven't had a lesson since junior high and I tend to follow my own pattern rather than someone else's, but I'm having a blast with it. I've altered many t-shirts, mini skirts and love creating costumes.

*Costumes*

Speaking of, I can't go without sharing what a huge nerd I am. I don't think I ever outgrew Halloween. I took it to another level last year, though, and tried cosplay. It is the most fun I can have one weekend per year. If you can recognize any of these characters, I give you bonus geek points!

ps: It's even more fun when my kids join in.

6 extra facts some people may find interesting:

1. I've never once watched Big Bang Theory. 
2. I also can't quite get into Dr. Who.
3. I will reference Princess Bride, Sixteen Candles and The Goonies as much as humanly possible. 
4. This is the first blog entry and/or tweet I've ever used gifs in.
5. I also love Star Wars (possible more so now that I have kids who dress as Princess Leia and Boba Fett). Watching order here: New Hope, Empire, Jedi, Clone Wars, Rebels. (Don't bother with those first three, they just draaag). 
6. Oh, and Empire is the BEST one because, well, AT-ATs. 

Look at them! Aren't they AWESOME? *STOMP* *pew! pew!*

That's all I got! Check out the rest of my fellow contestants here!

And Thank You, Chris Keelty, for hosting everyone!

2014 - Wrap-Up of a Damned Good Year

ANNOUNCEMENT OF MIND-BLOWING IMPORTANCE:

This is the first time in history I've ever fulfilled New Year's resolutions!

Jump back, eh?

Flashback January 2014:

What I want to do in the next year:

• Finish that second draft.    And the third and part of the fourth!
• Involve my small, but growing list of Critique Partners and Beta Readers.  Oh, they got involved all right.   
• Get regular with this blog.  OK, so it's more a sort-of cross-off. Since NaNoWriMo, I've gotten regular enough. Got plans over here.
• Enter some of those Twitter contests with agents out there.   Done!
• Run my third and maybe fourth 5K.   I got to my fourth. 
• Be able to get inverted.    I'm a headstand queen.

Added:

• Got writer educated. 

I took more classes. I learned the Heroes Journey, how to make my words more poetic and colorful and even combined yoga with writing. Thanks, Story Studio. You guys are awesome. See you in a few weeks.

• Put my book out there.

Pitch Wars was a rush. To take something I'd been poking at for so long and tell others to judge it is almost certifiable. I did not win any mentor sponsorship, but I got something better: a new critique partner.

• Found amazing new CPs and even more beta readers! 

I love these people. I'm so excited and honored to have them helping me out. (and love getting to read their stuff too!)

• I've learned how to take criticism. 

Sure, it stings, hurts the ego, etc. But I need it. This book of mine has been in my little headspace for far too long. Of course, I'm going to have a clouded vision.

• Did NaNoWriMo again. 

But this time I was "legit". I wrote something completely new. And get this, in October, I PLOTTED and got the whole thing done — first draft bruises and all — on Day 18.

I solemnly swear I will not pants again.

I could keep going. There's a lot more. This year was frigging amazing! Gotta be honest, I'm worried 2015 may not live up to the accomplishments of 2014.

Nah, I think it'll be even more exciting. Thanks for joining me here for the ride.

What I want to do in 2015:

• Make MG look the way it deserves in a near complete rehauling.
• Run outside in winter and get another couple races in. 
• Tackle Pharaohs in second draft.
• Deny the cupcake.
• Continue to make this blog even better, and, dare I say, consistent.
• And maybe, just maybe, start the querying process. (read as definitely)

2013 - The Year Things Really Came Together

When I was in high school then college and then those uncomfortable "who am I, really?" 20s moments, right before I headed out to party it up for New Year's Eve (which usually ended up a disappointment; it took a long while for me to learn that the anticipation of New Year's Eve is the best part of the night), I wrote in my journal of all the things that happened that year as well as what I planned for the coming year.

Now that I'm old, a mom of two and prefer the comfort of my Justice League jammie pants more than the obscenely short skirts, my journal (though not as often) has morphed into this blog. I haven't set a resolution for years except the weak 'gonna jump out of a plane!' (haven't still and never will).

Still, for nostalgia's sake and because I'm still trying to get a grip on the subject matter of this blog, I'm going to do it. Presenting Ann Marjory K's New Years entry.

What I accomplished this year (the short list):

I stepped up and became a writer more than I ever was. A year ago, I finished my first draft of a book I'd been musing one day a week for the past three years. I gave it to my husband to read (for three long months; he's a slow reader) and then added more. Then I decided the tense needed to change and rewrote 75% of it this year. It's really looking great and I get excited when I think about it. It's no longer a muse, for the first time ever, it's my life.

I participated in NaNoWriMo. I cheated, because it wasn't all new words, but still accomplished NaNo giving my first draft a second draft shine with a revision of 75K. I loved waking up to write every day.

I went to my first writing conference. Chicago's writing conference was huge for me. I talked about my book with other writers for the first time. I wrote a summary, two different pitches and synopsis for my book. I got huge chunks of advice on it. Best thing is, I met fellow writers and made new friends and kindred spirits. I even discovered a wonderful spot to go write and take classes. Worth every penny and I can't wait to go back next year.

I got all Twitter on myself. In June, I took my old twitter account, changed it to @annmarjoryk and slowly started looked for fellow writers. I had no idea it was so vast! The contests, the weekly talks and chats, the other writers who support each other in wonderful ways made me want to join this club. I'm close to 900 followers and try to communicate with them frequently.

I kept to a diet that worked and has changed my entire way of eating. The Whole 30 diet was a whim my husband asked me to join him on last January. It was only a month,  surely we could survive. The huge thing missing from my crap-eating style was vegetables, and boy howdy, did I learn to love them. To boot, I dropped three pants sizes because I've kept up a slightly modified version since. We're doing it again for January just to keep things in perspective.

I started running. "Only when chased" used to be my answer when asked if I ran. I used to watch runners jog by and wonder what the hell they were running from. I also chalked up to my double-ACL-replaced knee, that I was never going to run. This year, I ran two 5Ks. I'm no Barry Allen or Wally West, but the feeling of finishing is amazing (especially with my family cheering me on).

I learned to love yoga. Running was pretty cool; yoga was a lot more. I buy into all the spiritual stuff of yoga. It makes my body feel good and me feel good. I'm hooked.

What I want to do in the next year:

• Finish that second draft. 
• Involve my small, but growing list of Critique Partners and Beta Readers. 
• Get regular with this blog.
• Enter some of those Twitter contests with agents out there.
• Run my third and maybe fourth 5K.
• Be able to get inverted.

I hope all of you out there had a wonderful year as well. I look forward to more in 2014.

Happy New Year!

NaNoWriMo, the Hangover

NaNoWriMo ("National November Writing Month," Mom) ruled me for thirty days. I took my first, slightly revised draft and changed half of it into a second draft. This is more revising I've done since college term papers. Yes, even more than my when at my old reporting jobs.

In the end, I revised 75,000 words in my WIP ("Work in Progress," Mom) during the month of November. But I did so much than just that.

1. I changed the tense from past to present, which was to be an experiment to see if it works better. It does.
2. I fleshed out my antagonist so much that she feels less stereotypical
3. I have even more confidence in this story than a month ago
4. I gave my supporting characters more depth
5. I have memorized the Piano Guys music as that is all I listened to.
6. I've been humbled but in a good way about my MS ("Manuscript," Mom)
7. I still have my climax and end to revise, in other words, the tougher stuff

Ideally, I want 90,000-80,000 words for this book and I'm a long way off. It's going to mean losing some scenes and maybe some characters I've grown to love. I'm going to send it out to the growing list of Beta readers/CP ("Critique partners," Mom) and hopefully get great  and useful feedback. I may start entering some Twitter contests that I've been watching like a hawk since I joined.


But after this November, I'm really looking forward to it.

NaNoWriMo takes over

I have just reached the 50K word mark on revising the book. I am ahead of the game!

Well, kind of... I'm the queen over-writing and there is no way I'd be happy with a mere 50K words revised.

I am taking a day off today, thus why the blog is being updated. I need it. My kids need it. My husband needs it. But I'm going to write tomorrow and every day until Dec. 1, and then? I'll keep writing.

NaNoWriMo is going to become NaDeWriMo, and because of the holidays, NaJaWriMo as well.

As a National November Writing Month virgin, I've collected a few of my experiences this month so far.

The Good?

* I've gotten used to writing every day.
* I feel like a real writer.
* I've taken some blah scenes and rewrote them into fab scenes.
* I love my book and the characters in it and really think it has a chance.
* I've met more writers over Twitter thanks to the #NaNoWriMo hashtag.

The Bad?

* Too much coffee makes Ann very jittery, especially after 3pm.
* 2am wake-ups are not horribly fun.
* My daughter said she missed me; my son cried when I opened up my laptop.

The Amusing?

* After going to bed and waking up typing for days, I woke up with my laptop in my arms.
* I somewhat stalked a girl with my camera phone because her hair was just like my MC's.
* I've become such as regular at my two coffee bars, they could holler, "Ann!" when I stroll in.

Looks like my 24-hour hiatus is almost up! Off I go!

I'll see you at the coffee bar, hunching over my laptop, sucking down an Americano.

5k and beyond!

I did it!

I ran my second 5K and beat my personal time! Sure, I had to walk a bit, having double knee surgery will do that to one, but I felt great when I finished and wore it well in my Wonder Woman tee. I will add that having your kids cheer you on is the best feeling.

Shortly before I conquered that one, I was easily convinced to try the NaNoWriMo this year. This was not expected, but I've been doing some amazing push-forward things with my book the past couple months. And doing something like the National November Writing Month is par for course.

I tried writing 50K in 30 days once about 5 years ago with a story about characters I'd only created half of. It was perhaps why I didn't feel as devoted to it.  It made it to about 7K and fell to the side, not to be picked up again. But it was only a story that was to be for an audience of about 5 anyhow.

After that I had kids. I worked nights and kids going through 2s and 3s. There was no way I was going to be able to take a month off.

This year, I am in the middle of getting the second draft finished and decided to do some more drastic changes like the tense and one of my characters needed more altering. So, I decided to cheat (or be a rebel, as some NaNoers are putting it,) and second draft up my book in a month.

This, I've discovered it both difficult and easier at the same time. I'm not just spewing out words and promising to edit them later, now I have to go back over them a lot. And my book is over 100K at the moment, so my challenge to cut that down is there.

So, wish me luck! I'll check back at the end of November!

A Question of Devotion

I am having name issues. This time, it is person names.

When I choose a name for a character in anything I write, I either feel utterly devoted to it or completely indifferent. I write the details to get the personality out, but often, it starts as a name and I visualize what that name means to me first.

I named the best friend of the main character in my WIP, Kira, short for Kiranda. I never met a Kiranda, but a few Kiras. Recently, I've been seeing Kira in books. Seeing that this was one of the names I am indifferent to, I am thinking about changing it. But to change it, I would feel more comfortable if I changed her.

She is my MC's best friend.  But with this new name I have come up with, I see her change in appearance, race and if I keep writing her up as I have been in my notes, her personality.. which would change my MC, who I am at that devoted stage with, seeing as she is my MC.  I changed the last name of one character a few months ago and that only made him French in name as well as nationality, so why is this so much more? Maybe because Kira's such a strong personality already, I am scared to mess with her. Or perhaps I am more devoted to her than I thought.

I am not on a deadline here. I can completely change things up and maybe I'll feel better about the character once known as Kira. It will only take, what, a few weeks?

One thing I remind myself of a lot is that it's my book and I can do whatever I want to. Heck, if I can name a town Detroipia, I suppose I can do anything. Eventually, I will have to be happy with the piece, but when will that ever be?

Ah, I guess that is a post for another time.

To Name a City

In my book, I have based the city (which is an important part of the story, as my characters galavant all over it) after a few cities I visited and became intrigued with.

I couldn't just call it Chicago or New Orleans. It needed to have its own name, like the rest of the names in the book. (more on that another time)

So, I dubbed it in all caps BLANK CITY/TOWN with hopes of a reminder that I needed to get a name. Considering I also named the biology teacher of the school Mr. BLANK, I was going to need to get a name soon.

I've just had a devil of a time coming up with one.

So, it was suggested from a friend that I come up with the names of the cities I like and jumble them up.

I found a word generator from the letters in these cities:

Detroit

Minneapolis

San Antonio

St. Paul

Halifax

New Orleans

Chicago

And crazy names like St. Antroit, New Faxapolis, Apolisan, New Orlis, Halitroit and Munnerleans came up. (Halitroit is my favorite, sounds like Detroit with halitosis. Poor Detroit.)

These did not appeal, so I kept the city of BLANK going.

A couple of days ago knowing that some eyes that will be looking at my manuscript are going to want a name, I quickly typed in Utopia. 

Ugh, how generic. Isn't Utopia the name for all perfect towns? And my town is anything but perfect. I may as well should call it Genesis.

This morning I had the idea of giving the jumble a shot again. This time I added Utopia to the mix.

Detroipia.

Sure, it's surname is named after a town I have barely visited that is in a state of bankruptcy and decay, but mixing it with Utopia gave it new life. And I am totally fascinated by Detroit. Maybe it would be rebuilt in the image of the one I have in the book.

So, for now, I'm sticking with it. Welcome to Detroipia!

Going to the Show

In a few weeks, I will be heading to my first writers convention, the CWC.

I've been to conventions. They can vary depending on what the topic is and how excited I am about it. The ones I used to do for work about dialysis and floral arranging? Dull as hell. The ones about comic books and entertainment? Absolute blast.

But this one is different. This is something I'm passionate about. This is something I've coveted since I was eight. This is the Show, man.

I am debating my approach. I have a first draft getting the second draft overhaul at the moment. It's not ready for an agent. But maybe the idea is. Perhaps someone will be interested in my YA contemporary supernatural book.

I would love to spark interest, but I don't quite have something to show for it. I could possibly have a chapter I'm OK with in three weeks, but I'm still going through the second draft process on more than half of it and who knows, that chapter may get cut or severely altered.

(And have I mentioned how long this thing is? Longer than it has to be, for sure. The copy editor I eventually hire will have quite a red pen party.)

Or should I just relax and go to the panels and talks and absorb it all, keeping to myself and saving it for next time?

So far, I have been advised to get business cards and drink at the social gatherings. I can handle that. I will mingle and act like I'm not internally freaking out.

And then, I'll go to another one. And it will get easier.

Right?

Creature discomforts

Yesterday's research, however brief it was, involved trying to find the oddest type of feline for my MC. I originally had it as old, fat and lazy fur ball named Cronus (fat because he ate a lot like Cronus who ate all his children in Greek Mythology).

I found the Scottish Fold cat that have bent over ears and a round face.  They also have this most amusing sitting position on its back called the buddah sit. I know I would not be able to look at this creature without snorting a laugh, thus I figured this was perfect.

I mean, look at them.

Then my IR, aka, my husband, suggested I make Cronus a rabbit instead. That is different, I have to admit. I see dogs and cats in books, but not often a pet rabbit. (This had an ulterior motive as he very much wants us to get a rabbit.) And those lop-eared ones are awfully cute. The French Lops are huge.

But the name Cronus does not fit a rabbit for me. I would need to come up with another name, which will be about as difficult as coming up with the name of the city they all live in (it has been plaguing me for a while now).

I read a book recently of a girl who had a huge cat and it was pretty amusing. He served as a silent low support character. So, I was on the right track, but now that I see it's been done (with a far more creative name than Cronus), I don't want to copy. Granted, we are copying all the time from what we read, watch, experience, etc, but this seemed too close.

And now, with a minor character I've written throughout my book in question, I am going to go back to editing.



ps. These pictures were found from random sites. I should credit them and will next time around when I re-discover where they came from. My apologies to the sources of these pics.