Submitting

Yesterday I mailed two manuscripts to two of the invitations I got this summer. I have no idea how they will be received, but they are out there. There are times that I procrastinate sending out my work because I don't always know if it is the right person to send it to.

I do the research before hand or like in this case someone asks for that piece. You would think that that might give me an edge. Not. By the time the work gets read, the company could have decided that they already have enough of this type. Or, their focus has changed and they are no longer looking for that kind of story. It is such a crap-shoot.

Well it really doesn't matter because I'm bitten by the writing bug and I will never stop. One day I will land the right piece with the right person. I hope the day that happens I'm in a well carpeted area because I'm sure I'll faint and fall flat on my face. But it's worth the risk.

So now I work on the next thing. Gotta keep that writing fix going.

Learning and Opportnity

OMG! I just got back from a fantastic weekend, one of learning and opportunity. I'll start with the learning. This weekend was the SCBWI-LA Writer's Retreat. It was great. There were two editors present, Martha Mahalik, Associate Editor of Greenwillow, an imprint of HarperCollins and Arthur A. Levine, Vice President at Scholastic Inc. and the Pulisher of Arthur A. Levine Books, a literary, hardcover imprint of Scholastic. Both were kind enough to facilitate critique groups. Does it get any better than that? I don't think so.

Both gave me incredible feedback on the pieces I read. I can't imagine anything better than learning from these two. They were kind, imformative, and helpful. The things they pointed out became immediately apparent the moment the words left their mouths. I can't wait to get started on the revisions! With their help, my work can't do anything but get better.

Now for the opportunity. That loud, earpiercing scream you head yesterday was my reaction to Arthur Levine telling me that I am a good writer AND giving me an invitation to submit the piece he critiqued to him.

Okay, that was me screaming again. But can you blame me? The opportunities keep getting better and better. Then at the end of the weekend an agent offered me her card and expressed an interest in seeing my work.

Yeah, I did it again. In my place you would be screaming too. OMG!

Well, I have a lot of work to do so I'll have to write more later.

Doing Better

Today I am making the final corrections on the pieces I'm presenting at the Working Writer's Retreat. I'm having a blast working on three different stories at a time. The common thread between them is that they are science fiction; two far future and one comtenporary.

It reminds me why I do this. I love writing. I love having the characters talk in my head. Everything the characters say and the things they do gives me massive thrills. Not like a roller coaster or watching an action movie, but pretty darn close. It must be tapping into the same endorphens.

New stories are the best. I have to come up with a story line, characters, climax. It's just so good. I enjoy creating main characters, getting to know them, understanding their weaknesses and strengths. Super cool. But even better than that is creating a character that people will love to hate. For some reason that takes me over the top.

I'll  have to stop and sort that one out. Maybe there's some vicarious need being fulfilled. Or possibly some chathartic discharge when I foil their desires, even kill them off. Did I mention that I love it?

When I stay away from the computer too long it's like I'm jonesing for that endorphen rush and I go running back into the story. How about you? What gets you going?