Slowing down

44 in a 35.

Not too bad of numbers.

But bad enough for a $160 speeding ticket.

"But I've never driven in this area before. I'm on my way to a baby shower," my daughter told the policeman. In tears.

"It's posted four times, ma'am."

"Don't you ever give warnings? I've never had a ticket before in this state."

I had to give her credit. She tried everything in her arsenal to plead her case.

"Just read the back of the ticket."

We don't always get second chances or warnings.

How many times have you sent in a story, article or query letter and didn't read the submission rules? How many times have you been rushing and sent it without a good read through?

We don't always get second chances or warnings.

I've read countless agent blogs where their biggest complaint and reason for rejection is because the writer didn't follow the rules. Simple rules.

Increase your numbers. Take your time. Don't get caught in tears because of a simple broken rule.

Query Update

Query Update

I'm keeping my list. Marking it twice.

Sound familiar? Yeah, I have a notebook I use for tracking where and what I'm sending out to agents. But I wanted to share something with you. I mentioned it on Facebook but wanted to share here as well.

Because of all your help, I had a request for a full from my latest query!

Now I recognize nothing might come of it. But what it did for me was show me that I could put together a query that might capture the interest of an agent. Isn't that what this step is all about?

Of course, once I get passed that, I better hope I have a great story they want to read. Not every agent will. Not every agent will even like my style. A lot could happen. Or not.

Today, though, I'm happy that my effort (and yours) worked. Thank you!

So now tell me, how has a writer friend helped you lately?

Kicking the Habit--fast!

I'm sure many of you writers have read Donald Maass's book Writing the Breakout Novel. I finally picked myself up a copy with a gift card I won from a blogger.

I haven't put it down since.

But today I read something interesting. He writes, "Certain types of scenes are so reliably low tension that when reading a manuscript, I count them in my notes with hatch marks. They include: mulling things over while driving from one place to another, fixing a cup of tea or coffee. ...When they (category romance writers) complain to me at conferences that they cannot seem to break "out of category, " it is a pretty good bet that their heroines are tea addicts."

Gulp.

Guess where my heroine gets a job? Yes, you guessed it. A tea room. Hmmm.

Also have a car scene where she isn't chasing someone or running from the cops.

I've started my next book and you can be sure no one will drink tea or coffee or sit in their car thinking at all. Nope. Tension on every page.

Are you guilty of any scenes that do nothing? My hand is up.

The next level

How involved do you want your reader to be in what you write?

A few months ago, I set up a get-together for the ladies in my Bible study class. I wanted to create an environment where we could share and encourage. A place to get to know each other on a deeper level than in the church hallways where only a hello or goodbye gets said.

It hasn't been that easy. I've had to bring ice-breakers and think up games and techniques to encourage them to open up and trust each other enough to go to that next level. It puts a lot of pressure on me and I can't say I always enjoy it. I was hoping it would be more spontaneous but it isn't.

Neither is the involvement we hope for from our readers. Whether it's here on our blogs, an article or in a book, it takes a certain amount of effort to get a reader to react. I've had to learn how to edit my work, come up with good plots, hooks and mostly be sure I pack that emotional factor in there. I want my reader to finish with a feeling--but not boredom.

So how involved do you want your reader to be in what you write? Are you giving it the effort it takes? And what have you found works best?

Coming Around

I had an entire post planned for today but since so many of my blogger friends attended the ACFW's conference, I wanted to spend some time reading all about their meetings. So I'm keeping this short.

But.

I do have one tiny request for many of you fellow bloggers out there. I know Angie over at Gumbo Writer mentioned this a few months ago and I complied. Will you?

When someone leaves a comment on a post, it is wonderful if they have their email address put into their blog information so I don't get a noreply address. I love being able to shoot off a personal reply but quite often can't.

So I'm asking you . . . pleaaaaassse if you love replies and who doesn't?? Change your blog so we can do that!

Enjoy your Monday and I'll be around tomorrow to post but for now--heading around to see your pictures.

Are you under construction?

This is my master bathroom. Not a pretty picture right now.

It's under construction by my husband. He is redoing the cabinets, spackling the walls and plans to put in new tile. He tells me he has a master plan but it keeps changing by the day. He also tells me there is a really good reason why we need to do this. Hopefully our house should sell better when it's done.


In the meantime, my toiletries are spread out all over the place. And I can't find my fingernail clippers or my favorite comb. It's pretty much upside down here for awhile.

Much like the way our lives have been too for the past few years because of this recession.

While I know in my heart God has this perfect plan for me, there are days when all I see is the mess and torn out walls. Each time I think everything is coming together, something changes and the project gets exended.

I'm thankful though my life is under the direction of the master carpenter himself. I'm thankful he has this bigger picture and plan for my life that maybe I can't see right now. I just need to be patient. Not always an easy feat.

Is there a part of your life under construction right now? Are you waiting for something to fall together?

Thanks for your help!

Thank you everyone who commented on my query yesterday. You helped me see many things I could improve on it. One --not make it so unclear. Get rid of the last sentence. Two--not make it so depressing and Three--don't start my sentences with And or But. Never used to but started seeing it done that way in some books and it slipped into my own habit.

I'm judging a contest this week so I'm keeping this short. I also know that so many of my fellow bloggers are getting ready to go to the ACFW conference this week. Wish I were going! But I am looking forward to some great pictures and some great meet-ups from all of you.

I'll end with this: My favorite dessert is Angel Food cake. I've tried one from every store in the area and found that Wal-mart has the best. No one can outdo them. The others are dry and lack that vanilla taste I so love.

The genuine cake is worth my seven mile commute to purchase one.

All of you are like my Angel Food cake. No comparison. Nothing artificial. The real deal.

I appreciate you:) Thanks again!

Query Help Needed

I'm nervous about doing this but I'm stuck. And what good is having writer friends if you can't ask for help? (kidding--you're good for lots of other things!) So are these things to be kept secret? Not sure about all the rules so maybe I'm breaking one.

I'm talking about how much I'm driving myself nuts writing my query. I want it good--wait--not just good-- I want it to jump out at whatever agent I finally get the nerve to submit it to and have them say, "Send me more."

I've changed it a dozen or more times. I know at least one of my critique partners probably thinks I'm a pain. But here it goes. I'm going to write a part of it here. I am asking for all and any critiques from you about it. Here's your chance to get back at me for any I've done for you. I do realize queries are subjective. You just might not like this style of book --but pretend you're an agent and blast me if needed. Give me what you like and what you hate.Please?

Yeah. I'll cry. But I won't be alone. My crybaby husband will be there too.:)

Lizzy Batron sleeps with a bottle of pills. Maybe it’s because she believes she killed her husband in a freak car accident. Or maybe it’s because he won’t leave her alone even though he’s six feet under. But it could be because she met a romance writer named Paul who opens her eyes to the possibility of life after grief but she can’t go there yet. Whatever the reason; she’s juggling too many roles: writer, mother, girlfriend and self-proclaimed murderess. And yet God expects more. It seems to Lizzy donating her husband’s heart should be enough but it isn’t. Now she’s supposed to donate her sixteen-year-old son’s heart, too---to the new man in her life.
A SPRINKLING OF PROMISES is a story of hope, living again when all seems lost, and about digging deep down into your heart to trust God with all the outcomes.

Real Men Do Cry

Everything that happens is a story in the making.

My husband just read the Christmas memories so many of you posted to win the Christmas Traditions book. Okay. He was a day late but golfed all day Saturday.

A few minutes ago he came into my office with tears in his eyes. Yup. You moved him with your words.

I asked him, "So which one made you cry?"

He said all of them were filled with so many wonderful memories. I told him my favorite but that wasn't the one that made him run for the tissues.

We were all gathered at my grandma's and there was a knock on the garage door that led to the kitchen. We kids ran to open it, I guess I got there first because I was the oldest. And sitting on the floor of the garage was a huge bag of presents! LOL I was so amazed, esp. since the garage door was closed. I KNEW it must've been Santa who came. :-)

Yes, Jessica, you can still make a grown man cry:)

(PS. Send me your snail mail address and I'll ship you a book!)

Romance Issues Poll

I need some help here. As many of you know, I am in the final stages of editing my WIP: A SPRINKLING OF PROMISES.

But since today is my 32nd wedding anniversary, I have been thinking about the romance in my book and need some writerly input.

A few people who read it wanted me to change my ending.

The book isn't a romance but being the romantic I am (ask my dear husband) I had to put one in the plot. But the book is about Lizzy, a self-proclaimed murderess, wanna-be-writer and mother of two teens who is wearing too many hats and sinking from grief and guilt.

She falls in love with this other writer who she decides she can't be with. (Read the book when it comes out to find out why) But alas, at the end, he sends her his first novel and pens the inscription to her. You know by reading it she melts.

Cut to the next and last chapter--she is visiting the cemetery--the same one where the book starts and you the reader can tell she finally married the guy but he died from a bad heart five years later. She's ok about it--she grew throughout the book and is finally the whole person she wanted to be.

QUESTION: Should I have written a reunion with the man she loves before cutting to the ending even if it isn't about the romance? A few have felt they needed that final interaction between the two to tie it up for them.

Let me know, ok? and Hey--don't forget to sign up for my book giveaway on the last post. I am finding out that many of you have the same illness I have when it comes to writing more or doing more than we have to, oh lazy ones.:)

Thanks!

Celebrating Christmas abit Early

It isn't every day I get to be published with another blogger who I enjoy so much. But happy to say Angie Ledbetter from Gumbo Writer and I are both in this new book from Adams Media. So you get two for one:)

And to celebrate, I'm giving away a free copy of Christmas Traditions to the person who leaves the best Christmas memory in a post.

My husband will read the entries and choose a winner. Lucky him but like I said before, he likes my cooking too much to refuse. So enter away until this Saturday. Then I'll send you a copy to keep or give away as a nice gift for Christmas.

Confessions

I've got a confession to make.

I hate confessing but I really need to do this. After all, I can't hide behind my excuses anymore.

Many of you probably already know about my weakness. You know what they say. I'm sure it's all over the Internet by now. I probably can't even click on Facebook or Twitter anymore without an arrow pointing at me.

It won't even help to tell you've I've always been this way. Even way back in elementary school when they passed out gold stickers. To me. On my paper.

*Deep Breath.*

Okay I confess. I'm lazy.

You heard me. I am so very lazy. When kind nice bloggers give me a blogging award, I'm too lazy to figure out all the directions to post it, answer all the questions it demands, and then pick from my 100 and some fellow bloggers to pass it on.

*Another deep breath.* (A little deeper.)

So here is what I'm going to do.

THANK YOU to any one who ever gave me an award. I am always so grateful and appreciative when you do. It melts a part of my heart and makes me feel really good. Like when I won something in school. (That one time.)

So to make up for it, (and pretend here that you really do care), I will answer any question that anyone of those awards demand. All in one post.

And I'll even start you off.

Q.: What's your favorite book, Terri?

A. I haven't a clue.


So now. My guilt is gone. I feel better.

Anyone else have any confessions to start the week?

So You Wanna Be Published - Check out the free critique

I sent in the first few paragraphs of my book in progress to So You Wanna Be Published for Mary's free critique. Today she published it. Yikes! I was really nervous to do it but happy to say she liked it.

Please check it out if you get a chance--would love to hear what you think too.

I sent mine in a few weeks ago. Mary is a published writer and is kind enough to be so helpful to do these for new writers. Send yours in!

Blogger Bits and Blessings

If you like winning prizes, stop over at Donna's blog and see what she has in store to give away! But tell her I sent you:)

I found out this week I am in the Chicken Soup for the Soul: Count your Blessings book that comes out later this fall. Watch for when I give away a few copies. This story they are publishing has special meaning to me as the idea came from my good friend who told me to post a blank sheet of paper on my refrigerator and list any and all blessings on the days I felt particularly worried about our financial situation. God can turn our trials into triumphs!

Other update-still writing for Blue Mountain cards and the editor has picked up the option on a few and told me she will on another I just sent in.

One of my critique partners finished reading my book this week and that is a real blessing. I loved her suggestions and now am waiting for the other to complete it so I can take another run through it before submitting.

What are some of your blessings this week?