Category: quest

Moving ahead

Since RWA Nationals ended, much talk has been going on amongst my Starcatcher Sisters about fear … of submission,  rejection, inadequacy — you name it and we’ve probably felt it. Aislinn, who recently sold not one but two books, wrote an excellent post on writers’ fears just the other...

Two rejections in two days

Now I remember why I’m so glad to be off the dating scene. Rejection hurts. A lot. I’m sure I’m not the only one to equate the search for an agent to the search for Mr. Right — but it’s an apt comparison. You try to make a good...

Writer’s roller coaster

An e-mail arrived in my inbox today with the subject line: “Your Submission: …” Since I was at work at the time, I had an argument with myself. “You can’t open that! You’re supposed to be working,” the me with the Midwestern work ethic said. (It’s the same me...

Something else to worry about?

Thanks to one of my NARWA sisters, I found another contest to enter … a chance to win a pitch with a Harlequin American editor. Since I’ve long envisioned “Operation Snag Mike Brad” as an American Romance, I decided to go for it. I can’t say I always envisioned...

Inspired

Again, I went to my NARWA meeting … and again I was inspired by a great speaker. Jennifer Ashley talked about how to finish that manuscript and get it published. And as usual, I had to come back to Flagstaff and head straight to work when I wanted to...

And I thought ‘the Black Moment’ was bad

I’ve set “Blind Date Bride” aside for a couple of weeks, letting it rest before I start editing. But now I’m at a bit of a loss. What next? I have other manuscripts I could be editing/rewriting/expanding, including the two that follow my GH entry. (It’s part of a...

The what, the why & the why not

I spent some time this weekend looking through Debra Dixon’s infamous “Goal, Motivation and Conflict,” in case you couldn’t tell. The goal, of course, is “what.” Motivation is the “why.” And conflict is the “why not.” Your character wants _______ because ______ but ________. It seems so easy. Yet...

Theatrical inspiration

“Julie & Julia” inspired me to start a blog of my own. I’m sure I’m not the only one. How many people have rushed home after seeing that flick, eager to share their thoughts with the world — or at least the blogosphere? Actually, this isn’t my only blog....