Monday, September 29, 2008

Greetings....From Florida!!!

Hey, everyone! I haven't posted again because I'm down in Cocoa Beach, Florida right now! The weather's great and I'm so glad to get away! Y'all wanna know why? OK, I'll tell you. I've started my new story! Yep, only been working on it for about three days and am already in chapter seven. Pretty speedy, huh?

The change of scenery seems to have really helped my imagination and cleared my head. I'm still trying to decide if The Ultimate Evil needs this new scene I've thought of, but I'm not sure. It's getting to the point where the more I try to add I realize that it's going to start taking away from the story, so I might leave the idea on the back burner and if an agent suggests a new scene, then I'll put it in.

I would tell you the title of my new story, but there isn't one yet. I might need some help from all of you to find one, so if I ask, be ready!

When I get back I wil share a few pics. Right now I don't have my hook up from my camera to my computer, so pics will have to wait. Sorry. :-(

Anyway, this post is kinda long, so I'l sign off, now. I'll continue to keep you updated!

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Ever Had That Problem....

.....where you're mind is bursting with ideas for stories, yet you have no idea where to begin? Yeah, I have that problem, but it's getting worse. With The Ultimate Evil so near completion, I've been wanting something new to write, however, I don't know where to start. Ideas are swirling around and around in my head. I have a notebook filled with little scraps and pieces of abandoned tales and new ideas and I have a folder almost bursting with characters. *SIGH*

So, what I want to know is, have you ever had this problem? Are you going through it right now? Or is this something that you completely do not understand and want to run from this blog as fast as you can? :-)

Monday, September 22, 2008

My Triumph!

Hey, guys! Most of you know that I wrote a story for a writing challenge called, The Cleft Brothers. (You can find a post on my blog of the entire story.) Well, I just found out today that it tied for second place! YEAH!

I am SO excited! I have never entered a writing contest of any sort before, so I'm walking on cloud nine right now. Yeah, right now, life doesn't get any better!

Saturday, September 20, 2008

52K!!!!

Yep, that's right. I got "The Ultimate Evil" up to 52,000 words! Can you believe it? I found an old trial query letter that said this story had 48K. Not anymore!

Still this is VERY short for YA. Maybe I can think of some more twists and turns to add to the plot. We'll see! :-)

Sunday, September 14, 2008

No, I'm Not Published Yet

Some of you may remember when I posted that I had submitted two poems for publication. Well, I heard back from the place today and they rejected them. The editor said that my rhyming sounds a little forced, and I can agree! This was just kinda a spur of the moment thing, but he did say if I reworked them to feel free to submit them again! Yeah, that's cool. I also received the nicest (and personalized) rejection letter I could have asked for! So, all in all, a good experience.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Calling All Fantasy Writers!!!

Hey, are you a fantasy writer like me? Looking for a great writing forum? Well, your wait is over! Just click on over to www.fantasy-writers.org.

FW is a great place where fantasy writers come to chat, post stories, and learn from each other. If you want some good critique on your writing, you're likely to get it here. For fun they also have weekly polls and monthly writing challenges! These are so much fun! I just entered my first one last month and the results will be released on Monday! Hope I placed!

Hope to see y'all at FW!

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

A (Short) Conversation with Bruce Coville

Last month, I had a little bit of a conversation with Bruce Coville, author of many beloved childrens books including "The Unicorn Chronicles." It was so strange how it happened (and with one of my fav authors) that I gotta tell you about it.

On his website(www.brucecoville.com), Mr. Coville has a guestbook that fans can sign and he will reply to them. Well, I signed that guestbook, but he never replied to my post. Or anyone else's for that matter. He posted that he wouldn't be able to reply to messages for a few weeks. That time passed and he was answering messages again, but again, not mine.

Thinking that maybe it had slipped through the cracks, I posted again, saying basically the same thing. Later that day I recieved an e-mail with the subject, "Timing!" It was from Bruce Coville. This is what he said:


"Madison-

This is bizarre - I was literally posting a response to your message on the guestbook while you were sending this to me. I hit send, moved back to my e-mail page, and there was your message to me, wondering if I had gotten your first posting. You should recieve that message soon, if you haven't already.

Timing is everything!

BC"


I laughed out loud and replied to the e-mail saything this:


"Mr. Coville, thanks for sharing the hilarious story with me. My timing is always lousy or perfect, depending upon how you look at it!

Also, thanks for taking the time to answer questions and listen to your readers. I know it means a lot to people, including me, and it sets a great example.

Always wishing happy writing,

Madison"


And then he replied once more:


"Thanks, Madison. And good luck with following your own dreams.

BC"


Talk about weird! But, hey, in this case, weird is a good thing!

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Us Greedy Writers

What is it we writers want all the time? Praise? Sure, that's nice, but not all the time. Rejection? Heck, no!

What? You can't think of it? Come on, it's so easy!

OK, I'll break down and tell you. Advice! Advice is what we wanna be authors crave. We want to know what to do, what not to do, what should a contract include, what can make my mss. better, etc. etc. etc. Wow, we're greedy aren't we? Yes, because when it comes to advice, we can't get enough.

Were do you get that advice? It's all over the net, but it's hard to find, isn't it? Well, there's a great blog out there that answers nearly every question we writers could ever have!

What is it? Tell me! Tell me!

OK, keep your shirts on, I'll tell you. It is literary agent Nathan Bransford's blog. He answers nearly every question you could ever have about the dreaded query letter, on how to prepare a partial, and even some tips on the synopsis we have to write. Of course, this isn't all. He posts regularly and interacts with those who post. His blog was even on Writer's Digest's 101 Best Websites for Writers. How cool is that?

Anyway, I highly recommend his blog. I only found it not that long ago and now I wonder how I got along without it. Click on over, you can find a link on the left side of my blog, and check it out. Trust me, you'll be glad you did!

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Publication? Maybe?

So, I found this online weekly magazine that publishes short stories and poems. I had written two poems, so I sent them off tonight, hoping that they will be published. I should know (they say) in 4-6 weeks. Sometimes it's shorter, sometimes it's longer.

Anyway, I'm excited and nervous! Hope everything goes well! Pray for me!