Jambalaya Writer's Conference 2013 +update

Once again, I had a lot of fun and learned so much.  This year, I attended with my friends Raven and Leabo, then ran into Mike, who I haven't seen since college. Nice surprise.

I just hope I can implement all the advice I received.  I followed through with one literally seconds ago and I'm freaking out.  It will be okay.  I hope.  But when an author I respect gives advice, I should listen.  So I did.

I didn't finish working on Dolus before the conference.  Ah well.  I am a lot closer, though.  I'm doing a full manuscript edit.  The craziest problem I'm having is that right now it's hovering around 90,000 words.  I add enough it goes over.  Then I find a spot where I have extra info or unneeded dialogue, so I cut and it falls under.  Then it goes over.  Under.  Over.  A little nerve racking since I need to have a minimum of 90,000 to meet genre requirements.  I'd really like to sit comfortably at 95,000 words.  If it comes to publication, I'd like room to maneuver and the middle seems like a good target.  No, I won't limit myself with an exact count, but in the ballpark would be nice.

Stars Collide is seeing the light of day again.  Whenever I can't concentrate on Dolus, I give it a go.  It's not being worked on as much, but when I do pick it up, the words just flow.

Another plus, two of my Beta Readers for The Legacy have offered to read anything I write.  Think I got a couple of fans.  Literally.  Haha.

Yeah.  Better stop this train wreck now.

Bye!!

Dolus

Finished this editing run.  Now I need to boost the word count by about 10,000.  None of it can be filler, so I'm gonna sit with my cork board and index cards and see what kind of wrenches I can toss in.

I'm still a little driven to work on Stars Collide in the meantime, but somehow I think I'll get lost in that work.  I guess I'll see how long I'm starting at the Dolus plot without any progress before touching it.

I have to admit, the closer the Conference gets, the more nervous I am.  To the point of believing I'll fail no matter what.  I've taken to listing not only what I can do to improve my work, but also why I shouldn't loose my confidence.  Putting this into the hands of fate is very difficult.  If it's meant to happen, it'll happen.  I worked hard on the manuscript and I'm always looking for a way to improve.  Somehow, I don't think it'll be enough.  Too bad we can't predict the future in a very clear manner. (I have belief that a good tarot card reader can see elements of a future, but not well enough to say clearly what will happen.)

Enough of this.  I'll approach the agent no matter what and she promised me a second chance.  Either she'll like it or she won't.  And she'll make helpful comments.  She's not the only agent out there.  It's not like I'll have her answer before August anyway.  No more thinking 'what if…'  I'm letting it go.  Trying to.  Usually I love my imagination, but it really sucks in this instance.

On a happy note, my short story 'The Race' will be published and in my hands the day of the Conference.  I'll hold onto that.

Stress: Ugh!

I haven't gotten my manuscript from Jeremy.  I'm still a bit worried about that, but he didn't work today for me to ask him about it.

Mr. Huey says I need to work on characterization and the setting for the first chapter, despite many people saying I don't need to describe the coffee shop in detail.  It's one of the wonderful things about writing.  There's not a right answer in this situation and I don't know where to go with it, but he gave me something to think about.  I think my target audience won't need description and other audiences will.  Maybe it's best to wait until I have an agent or publisher to make any changes – or rather revert to sections of a previous version with description.

Raven seemed to like what I had for her today.  I gave her a present.  Due to her lack of knowledge in formatting and her poor spelling skills, I typed up all her current work on her novel during the week, printed it out yesterday, and wrote my comments there.  Today, I transferred it to her computer.  My advice was to first finish her rewrites on the original draft, then to look at my comments and incorporate them.  I also told her to take one big comment at a time so she's not overwhelmed.  When a friend of mine from college saw the first page, he made the sign of the cross at her and blessed her.  It's like I told both of them: I wouldn't have put so much work into her novel if I didn't think it was worth investing in.  She's got two weeks before I'm back at Books.  I hope she makes good progress.  She also asked me to look at a sort of short story and make comments.

I like this new social thing I have going on.  Well, at least on Saturdays.

Adventures in Beta Reading: 4

Gave AJ a copy of The Legacy and got his number.  Mr. Huey's read one paragraph and likes it so far.  LOL.

I also agreed to help a new friend, Raven, with a novel.  She's 17 and dyslexic.  Most people told her she wouldn't go as far as she did.  I've only read the first page, but it looks like she has a lot of potential despite the work she needs to improve.  I only hope I can lead her down the right path.

Adventures in Beta Reading: 3

Spoke with Jeremy at Books.  He says he's done with The Legacy and will bring it first chance he gets.  Or remembers to bring it to work with him.  I gave him my phone number so he can call when it's there and I can make a trip out to pick it up.  He's also been accepted into the Marines and will be leaving on February 1^st.  I gave him permission to give it to Mr. Huey, who I trust to return it to me, and I hope this works out.  Or am I being paranoid about his intentions?  He could be honestly forgetting.

I also gave Mr. H an electronic copy of The Legacy.

Adventures in Beta Reading: 2

Shannon T. returned his draft.  More typos Roxanne missed and a few good questions that I need to sort out.  I'm not quite sure how to solve one.  Once I mentioned it to Roxanne, she said it made her wonder, too, but not enough to mark it.  I think I'll wait to hear back from the others first.

Aunt Dale apparently doesn't understand anything that's going on in The Legacy.  There are several possible reasons: she dropped out of high school, doesn't typically read fiction, and has no interest in this type of story.  She didn't tell me though.  She talked to my MawMaw, who talked to my Mom, who told me what's going on.  I don't mind the chain of discussion.  Better that I know something rather than nothing.  I haven't called her, yet, and I really need to.  At the very least, I can get that copy back.

I confess being a little worried about Jeremy.  He was on the phone with his wife and she asked if she could be a co-writer because she has lots of ideas on how to improve The Legacy.  I said, "No."  I worked too hard on this manuscript for so many years to bring in a co-writer.  I have no problem with co-writing something me and the other person conceptualized together or if another writer asks me to join what they've begun and I like the project.  For some reason, I doubt I'm getting that manuscript back at all.

Dolus work is going well enough.  The first section is getting a heavy reedit.  I think I'm removing more work than I'm adding, but in the end I know it'll make a better story.  That's all that matters.

The End Of The World

I had a real good laugh today from the Mayan Calendar controversy.  Either the world ends, aliens return to assist us, or we will all become enlightened.  Most Mayans themselves, however, just see an old calendar focusing on planetary alignment restart at day one.

"They'll either be blow up or a bliss out."  --Prof. Tony (didn't catch his last name), NPR/Fresh Air interview

I don't remember the context, so I encourage you to find and listen to it on your own, but I do remember its awesomeness.