A New Decade, A New Year, A New Me?

Happy New Year! Wow, I can’t believe that we are already a full decade into this century. Time flies when you’re having fun, or in my case, while I’m wasting time. 

As I look back at the past ten years and my writing accomplishments, I’m saddened by what I have to show for that period of time. I’ve been a member of RWA for most of this decade and have attended a handful of conferences. Both of which have been incredibly helpful and huge learning experiences.

As for actual writing, I’ve finished one manuscript, and have started several others.  Have quite a few ideas in the works.

So, this year my plan is to get serious. Enough messing around and wasting time. My resolution this year is to treat my writing as a business. Like my day job, even if I don’t feel like working, or in this case, writing, it doesn’t matter. It’s my job, so no excuses, I need to get my butt in the chair and start writing.

Seems so simple to see it in print, it doesn’t really look like much. But it’s definitely harder than it looks.

I’m off to get a jump on my resolution.

May you all have a happy and prosperous New Year. Do you have any resolutions this year? I’d love to hear them.

Writer’s craft books, anyone?

On my journey of becoming a published author, I feel like I can never learn enough. It’s a constant that I need to keep doing. I attend the monthly meetings of my local chapter in which they always feature a workshop. I try to go to as many conferences as I can or rather as many as my wallet can take. And I read, read, read. Since I write romance, the majority of the books I read are romance. They give me insight into what’s being published and what the lines are looking for; the style, the voice, sexual content and so forth.

But I can’t leave out the books on the craft of writing. There are so many of them out there. Whenever I attend a conference there’s always at least one speaker that recommends at least one book. So now I’ve got a bookcase full of books on the craft. I’ve read bits and pieces out of each, but I can honestly say that of all those books, I’ve only read one from cover to cover.

That’s what this post is about – my reading to learn. I’m going to make it through my bookshelf of craft books. Now will I use all of the information? No. Not everything works for everybody. But my plan is to glean bits and pieces from each that when put together, will create my own personal writing craft book. Make sense?

Do you have a book on writing that you can’t live without? Do you have any recommendations? I’d love to hear them.

My current craft book I’m reading – Write is a Verb: Sit Down, Start Writing, No Excuses by Bill O’Hanlon.

Launch Day!

Today is an exciting day for me. It’s launch day! Launch day for both my website and this blog. I’m so excited that both are up and running and that you’ve decided to stop by. There are still things that need to be done to the site and added to make me happy, but they’ll get there soon.

Since this is my first post, I’ll tell you a little about myself. I’ve been a member of Romance Writers of America (RWA) for 7 years. And though I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t writing, I decided to start writing seriously in 1999. 10 years ago. It seems so long ago now. I’m not published yet, but I know my day will come. I write Single Title Contemporary and Historical Romance. I also write some Erotica. I have an awesome critique partner, who happens to be my best friend. We met 10 years ago when we both signed up for the same writing class. We’ve been inseperable ever since.

I live in freezing Maine, where reports coming out tonight say that the temp tomorrow will be around 20 below zero. Not the coldest we’ve seen this year, but I was hoping when the 34 below zero weather passed through last week that we’d be done with it. Apparently I was wrong.

My plans for this blog are to update it a few times each week with my writing progress, goals, latest happenings and just plain ol’ ramblings. I appreciate you stopping by and hope you will again soon.