The Paranoid Writer

When Life Gets in the Way

Itching to Work on Second Novel

I’m itching to finish up my first draft of my second book. Today, I’m grading finals and entering grades, and then I will be clear until Wednesday when I have to give only one more student the final. Really, I can’t enter my grades until next Friday, the designated day of the final. I always have at least one student show up, who I have not seen all semester. I’m giving the final early this year; it’s my last semester, and I’ve never given early. The students seemed relieved that they don’t have to wait until next Friday, and then I’m finished with teaching for now. What am I going to do until next Friday? I’m going to get through today with grading and entering grades, and then I can write. Like I said, I’ve got to finish up that rough draft.

November 30th, 2009 Posted by | Uncategorized | no comments

Detoxing from Thanksgiving

Ok. I’m taking a break right now.

November 28th, 2009 Posted by | Uncategorized | no comments

Writer’s Block

Writer’s Block: I ate too much turkey.

November 28th, 2009 Posted by | Uncategorized | no comments

Nothing to Report

Nothing to report right now. I’m just playing the waiting game. Boo.

November 20th, 2009 Posted by | Uncategorized | no comments

Encouraging Words

I received some encouraging words from a publisher. She basically said that my query letter told her that I didn’t have a clue about the plot of my book. I re-wrote the letter and sent it to her. Again, the same response. She was right. I really had not recognized the fact that I was a writer, and I wrote this book. I looked close at the book and re-wrote the query letter to reflect that dark humor and grotesqueness of the character and her situations. Guess what? Agents want to see it.

I wrote her an email and thanked her for the advice. Bottom line: take the advice and then figure out if you need to use it or not. That’s the hard part. The publisher’s advice now to me: “Go get ‘em.” I will.

November 19th, 2009 Posted by | Uncategorized | no comments

Another Request

I’m on a roll. I received another request for a full manuscript. I just have to keep pushing it. Come on, agents.

November 18th, 2009 Posted by | Uncategorized | no comments

Keep Moving On

I am still waiting for the response for my full. I have a partial sent out to an agent and another partial with a press. We will see what happens. Today, life gets in the way of writing and sending out to agents. I can deal with it. Yuck. Mundane stuff.

November 17th, 2009 Posted by | Uncategorized | no comments

No, I am My Mother’s Muse

November 16th, 2009 Posted by | Uncategorized | no comments

I am My Mother’s Muse

November 15th, 2009 Posted by | Uncategorized | no comments

Another Door Opens

When one door closes, another opens. Yeah, it’s true. I received another request from an agent–the first twenty pages, author bio, and plot synopsis. It’s printing right now and will be in the mail soon. I’m keeping my novel just like it is for right now. Funny, how every time I start to fall to the bottom of the pit and start doubting my book, I get something from an agent. Right now, I am going to play the waiting game and keep writing on my second book. Hmm. Brownies anyone?

November 14th, 2009 Posted by | Uncategorized | no comments