Archive for June, 2006
June 19, 2006
2:12 pm • Filed under: Uncategorized
I’ve been coming out of the closet.
The writing closet, that is. I figured since I just sold something, I need to start telling people so I can generate some buzz and get people to buy the dang thing.
I’ve been keeping my writing a secret. You tell people this stuff and then they constantly ask you about it. And when you have nothing to report, well, then it starts being difficult to deal with. Like you don’t want to deal with their questions at all. So I just wouldn’t tell anyone except for those closest to me.
So I’ve started telling people. Friends, family members. I never expected my first sale to be an erotic/romantic story, and that’s been kind of tough to explain to people, to say the least. But most everyone has been really supportive, which is nice. I’ve had a few friends who were shocked, not real excited/supportive but that’s okay. I kind of expected that.
Have any of you who are not published (yet - that’s my positive vibe going on!) revealed your secret writing passion? Or even those who ARE published - are some of you still keeping it a secret? Share your experiences…
June 17, 2006
11:30 am • Filed under: Uncategorized
Look at the abs on this guy!
June 15, 2006
12:04 pm • Filed under: Uncategorized
First, thanks everybody for all of the kind comments and well wishes yesterday. I appreciate them all! A shout out to my new author friends at Cobblestone. I’m so excited to be a part of this publisher!
So…I decided to use a pen name at Cobblestone. Karen Erickson (maiden name) it shall be. And so I’ve been thinking - should I change it overall? Just make myself Karen Erickson for good? Crap, I don’t know. I want to start a website, but karenerickson.com is already being used - by a realtor named Tami Timbeross!!??!! What the heck? Why is she using my name? Oh, I just read further - her mom’s name is Karen Erickson. Huh.
Anywhoo, I need a domain name, I need to write a blurb and various other stuff, I need to do a lot! I feel a little overwhelmed, but in a good way.
ps - If you have a myspace account, check me out. http://myspace.com/kdid210. Add me! I need to network more.
June 13, 2006
10:29 pm • Filed under: Uncategorized
I sent off a short story (my dirty little story is what I nicknamed it) to Cobblestone Press on Saturday afternoon. . .
. . . And they sent me a contract this evening!!!!
I’m so excited. I can hardly stand myself. I’m going to be published! And with Cobblestone - I’ve been so impressed with the way they promote their site and their authors and now I’m going to be a part of it!
Well, first I have to read and sign the contract. That’s kinda important, huh?
Ok, gotta go put kids to bed. Just ‘cos I was offered a contract doesn’t mean I can stop what I normally do every evening and revel in the good news. Rather unfortunate, but what can I do?
Whoo-Hoo!
June 12, 2006
1:25 pm • Filed under: Uncategorized
I’m taking an online workshop through a RWA online chapter I’m a member of. Self-editing is the topic. Couldn’t come at a better time, considering I need to do some major self editing on the Blaze attempt.
So…the first thing to do is to STEP AWAY FROM THE MANUSCRIPT. Recommended a few weeks but sometimes that’s hard with a deadline. The only deadline I have is myself so…that part was easy. I’d already stepped away from the thing. It’s been a couple of weeks. I’m ready to throw myself back at it.
Next, print it out and read it in one setting. Well, I don’t wanna print it out. First off, my kids have used so much of my printer paper to draw on, I have hardly any left. And I don’t feel like going to the store. So, if you can’t print it out, change the font type and size on your document before you read it on the computer. It’ll trick your brain into thinking you’re reading something else, not that story you just poured your blood, sweat and tears all over for the last *insert amount of time it took to write the darn thing here*.
I was skeptical, to say the least. I didn’t think it would matter that I changed the font type and size. But I went ahead and did it, took a deep breath and ended up only reading the first two chapters. There went the read it in one sitting. But I was too tired. And my son wanted to use the computer to play his Neo Pets game so I was like, I’m done.
But let me tell you this - that font thing worked. I used the Track Changes option on Word (thank you Shelli for explaining to me how that works!) and went crazy. I was editing like a mad woman! All kinds of things I hadn’t spotted before, mostly tightening up sentences.
And I’ve been working on the synopsis. I have to remember this is a business, and if I want to succeed in this business, I need to take it seriously. It’s not all about writing fun stories and thinking up fun story ideas. You gotta work hard at making it better and then try to sell the thing. And the selling tool is the query letter and synopsis (gulp).
Wish me luck while I spend my time in editing land.
June 9, 2006
5:52 am • Filed under: Uncategorized
…And I’m up. I can’t sleep. I should be exhausted. Spent half the previous day out in the blazing sun on a broken down boat in the middle of a lake with 5 children and three other adults besides myself.
Ok, that sounds like a nightmare but it wasn’t that bad. The kids were good, we all had fun. The boat got towed back to shore by some very nice people who kindly helped us out. I feel sorry for our friends though - it’s gonna cost them some $$ to fix that boat.
I’m sunburned, my nose looks like Rudolph’s. I used sunblock, I swear! I feel asleep early - right now I have no writing projects I want to work on late into the night (though I have things to do, none of it appeals at the moment).
But I woke up about 15 minutes ago and just laid there. Snuck out of bed and came to my office. Heard a coyote howling like mad. I really hate that sound sometimes. Reminds me of being young and they kept showing the commercial for “The Shining” with Jack Nicholson on TV. It was summertime, I was about 8 and at my grandparents’ house. Went to bed, heard coyotes howling outside and all I could think about was Jack Nicholson with an ax. Begged my grandma to shut my window. She did. Love my grandma.
So now on hot nights when I hear coyotes, I think of Jack Nicholson and an ax. What’s up with that? The mind does weird things, makes you associate certain moments in life with sounds, smells, etc.
Ok, I went off on a strange tangent. See what happens when you blog in the middle of the night?
June 7, 2006
11:18 am • Filed under: Uncategorized
I like ‘em, amongst other things.
What’s your favorite male body part? Heh heh heh
June 5, 2006
1:01 pm • Filed under: Uncategorized
Do you ever feel like you are? Like, every little thing you say ends up related to sex? You see some random dude and start feeling a litte . . . randy? I don’t know, I think it’s all this sex I write.
Not that I write pure sex. Of course there’s a plot! A nice little story rich with emotions and conflict (well, at least I certainly hope all that stuff is in there!). Try and tell that to my husband’s friends, the few he casually mentioned about what I was doing.
“My wife wants to become a published author. She’s writing a book,” my innocent husband said.
“What kinda book?” one of his friends asked.
Husband shrugs. “Dunno. I think she said a romance.”
Heads shaking. Bug eyes. Catcalls. The works. “Where does she get her inspiration?” Wink wink, nudge nudge.
My poor husband. He doesn’t talk about what I write with his friends anymore. Though that may change when I get published! (Or maybe not, cos then the proof of what I write is out there - in print! That just might freak them all out.)
What’s got me thinking about all of this is that romantica/erotica/whatever you want to call it short story I’m almost finished with. I know, I know, I should be getting down to business and prepare my Blaze for submission, but this story came out of nowhere and I couldn’t resist. I had to let it flow out of me for fear of it disappearing.
Anyway, it’s a fun little sexy (ok, whole lotta sexy) romp that has been so much fun to write. And it made me realize . . .
I’m a pervert.
Not that I’m writing about extreme kink or anything, but I guess it’s opened my eyes that I enjoy writing this sex stuff cos it’s fun. The sexual tension stuff is even more fun. Romance is fun.
Huh. So I guess that makes me not so much of a pervert after all.
Watch me argue with myself on my blog! I’m a freak.
Anybody else feel like this writing stuff/romance stuff/sex stuff consumes them? Makes them feel a little naughty? And they like it? Please, join my club!
June 4, 2006
3:10 am • Filed under: Uncategorized
He’s hot. No wonder she’s smiling.
June 2, 2006
11:17 am • Filed under: Uncategorized
I feel all over the place, writing-wise. I need to work on a couple of query letters and synopses - blah. I need to revamp a bit on my Mod X offering and then finish the thing - ho hum. I’ve been fiddling with the idea of a short story/novella to submit to Cobblestone Press. Erotica. Whoo-wee! That sounds like the most fun to me.
So what I should be doing and what I actually want to be doing are two different things. I need to focus, I need to submit, cos I am this close to submitting two things. But I want to write a dirty little story that’s been lingering in my head for the last few days, and I’ve already put a little bit down on paper. Aaah, nothing like starting a fresh new story!
Is everyone else focused? Doing what they should be? Not me! I swear, this weekend I’ll get down to business. Promise.
Congrats to Cobblestone Press on their opening day and to all of the new authors! I can’t wait to buy me a couple of new ebooks….
