1. I’m in the middle of a pretty large revision and I heart it so much. I’m removing a subplot, reducing the roles of two characters, increasing the role of another character, combining a bunch of scenes together, adding some awesome new scenes I am beyond excited to write, adding more clarity and information in places it lacked, and also adding more humor/making the voice more consistent/wittier. I’ve already revised several conversations that are much funnier than they were before and I love the added humor! I’m so excited by these revisions. It’s going to be epic, but so so worth it when I’m done. I just wish I could devote all my waking hours to this instead of having to waste my time at work…or sleeping.
2. Aside from email stalking because of querying, I’ve also been snail mail stalking because of wedding invitation responses. So far my acceptance rate is very high! And when I get a rejection? It hurts a lot more than a writing R, especially when it’s a form "No" without a concrete reason! The personalized responses are my favorite, like the ones that draw a smiley face in the "will attend" box. I also get some interesting adverbs. The response card says, "So so will ________ attend" and people will write in an adverb usually "gladly" or "definitely" but then we get some like "obviously" which was my favorite. My sister tried to think of something funny, but she failed with "reluctantly."
3. My bachelorette party was last weekend. I had such a great time! The adorable Jen Hayley came! My sister planned the perfect event. It started at Color Me Mine ceramics studio where I painted a platter for guests to sign at the wedding. Except…I spelled my future last name wrong on it! Doh. Luckily I as able to wipe it off and start again. And the sad part was that I had JUST joked about how funny it would be if I accidentally misspelled it. Self-fulfilling prophecy. After that we went back for drinks at my sister’s apartment, then dinner at Mexican, which I love. And then bar hopping where we had guys sign my shirt to give me advice. I bet you could never guess what kind of advice guys give. Anyway, I posted pics on Facebook, but here are a select few:
From left to right: Picture 1 = Me and my sister. Picture 2 = Me and Jen Hayley. Picture 3 = me at ceramics. Picture 4 = the girls at dinner.
4. I’m getting really excited for BEA next month. Anyone planning on coming to NYC that I don’t already know about? We have to meet up!
5. Don’t forget to join the Veronica Mars discussion. You can discuss the pilot here or join us next Thursday for episode 2.
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Tags: friday five, revisions, writing progress
April 16th, 2010 at 6:46 pm
Color Me Mine
That looks like an awesome bachelorette! I went to color me mine for my bachelorette as well!
-Nadine: Maui Author (sorry, I don’t have a livejournal account)
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admin Reply:
April 16th, 2010 at 9:07 pm
Re: Color Me Mine
Oh that’s so cool that you did it as well! What did you paint?
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April 16th, 2010 at 7:19 pm
I LOVE the idea of a ceramic platter for the guests to sign! My wedding was nearly four years ago (our anniversary is next month), and reading your updates brings up so many happy memories of that time. Cheering for you as you continue with your wedding planning — and with your revisions!
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admin Reply:
April 16th, 2010 at 9:07 pm
Happy almost anniversary! I’m glad your updates are bringing back happy memories. I was hoping I wasn’t annoying people with them!
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April 16th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
I love your happy smiles!
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admin Reply:
April 16th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
Awww, thanks!
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April 16th, 2010 at 7:46 pm
You look very happy!
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admin Reply:
April 16th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
I am!
How has been submission for you? Stressful?
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ellestrauss Reply:
April 16th, 2010 at 9:18 pm
Waiting is always stressful! I’m trying to keep my mind on other things like my latest wip. I got my first editor rejection the other day, but hopeful someone on the list will say yes. Sooner than later, please!
How’s your query process going? Have you tried Natalie Fischer?
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Anonymous Reply:
April 17th, 2010 at 1:16 am
Sorry about the R. Did you get good feedback? My fingers are crossed for you!
Natalie is definitely on my list but I haven’t had a chance to query her yet (mostly because I’ve been lazy and haven’t gotten to the post office for snail queries). Anyway, the revision I’m doing is for the book I had been querying–I got an R&R as well as other feedback–so when I finish and make the book all sparkly and much stronger, I’ll be sure to query Natalie! I’ve heard great things about her.
admin Reply:
April 17th, 2010 at 1:17 am
Whoops, that anonymous was me. Forgot to login.
April 16th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
Congrats on revisions going so well, your party and it looks like you had a blast. I’ll be home/in NYC the 27th but I’ll be jet-lagged so I’m not sure if I’ll be at BEA. (However I’ll be in NYC all summer so we should hang out!! Do lunch…or something!)
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admin Reply:
April 16th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Yes, we’ll definitely need to hang out this summer! Let me know when you get here officially. June may be difficult because of wedding/honeymoon but the rest is wide open.
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April 16th, 2010 at 8:24 pm
The pictures look so fun! Whish I could have been there…
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admin Reply:
April 16th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Me too!
But you get to come to the wedding which will (hopefully) be fun as well!
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April 16th, 2010 at 8:32 pm
Sounds like you’re super busy! I’m glad you’re liking your revisions though. Congrats!
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admin Reply:
April 16th, 2010 at 9:10 pm
I’m always super busy, haha. This is nothing new. Are you writing/revising right now as well?
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authorwithin Reply:
April 16th, 2010 at 9:49 pm
Yeah, I’m revising, but I’m thinking of setting it aside for a bit and doing some writing instead.
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April 16th, 2010 at 8:58 pm
Looks so fun!
And I’m glad you’re deep in revision love.:)
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admin Reply:
April 16th, 2010 at 9:10 pm
Thanks! Revision love is the best. Better than revision frustration, haha.
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April 17th, 2010 at 2:27 am
I’ve never heard of adverbs on response cards. So hilarious!
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April 18th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
Good luck on your revisions. I’m rooting for you.
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April 25th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
I thought about putting an adverb in!! But I didn’t think I was supposed to. Pretend I put enthusiastically in there.
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