Long overdue post...

Benches are very uncomfortable. It wouldn't be so bad sitting on the hard benches if the temperature was more reasonable - not a muggy 90+F. The only reasons to keep me from moving to the comfy couch in the air-conditioned lobby are my kids. I enjoy watching them during their swimming lessons. Some parents read, some watch...I sometimes write, though.

Last week, during the swimming lessons, I got a few more characters written - I need to develop 8 characters. I figure the best way to do this is to write an introduction for each one. I can then see how they react to the MC and interact with the other characters. I wrote a couple lines describing them, but that didn't help me understand their personalities. I need to see how they behave and the only way to do this is to start writing a couple pages of the story. Each character meets the MC in the same way - at the MC's front door. So far I have five completely done and I have a better grasp of how each of the children think and behave. I don't know if I'll use any of those pages in the story, but it definitely helps me understand each of these characters.

I have strayed from my goal of submitting this year. Once I have all my characters written, I will have to start submitting again. :)

Great start to the new year!

A few weeks ago, I got my first acceptance of the new year. The story I sent to Stories For Children was accepted. I am very excited and cannot wait for the May issue to come out!

The New Year...

With the new year comes a new goal - a goal to edit and submit the manuscripts that I have been neglecting over most of the past year. I have already submitted one story and have two more that just need to be printed and mailed.
In November I attempted to write a 50000-word novel (Nano) and did not succeed. But I did find that I really wanted to finish a novel that I started writing several years ago. I read through the chapters I already had and the long timeline I wrote (so I wouldn't forget who all my characters were and how they were related to the main character.)
I would also like to continue editing my first complete novel. I did submit it once - but was rejected. Part of the problem was that I did not submit it to the right publisher. Although the guidelines said they accepted humour, I could not find any humourous novels in the books they have already published in that category.
The publisher I think would be perfect for this book is currently not accepting unsolicited manuscripts or queries. So I am watching patiently for an update on their site, while also looking for another publisher for this novel.