WordPress (?)

So, I'm thinking of switching to WordPress for my blogging and webtacular adventures.  It seems more...professional?  It's a pain though.  I signed up for the site a couple of months ago, but there are so many decisions to be made:  What the title should be?  The (specific) content).  Taking the time to learn the site and it's features.  Ugh.  There are so many other things I should be doing.
1.  Writing a Pitch for my novel.
2.  Fervently editing said novel. 
3.  Getting serious about the title (Yes, it does have a title.  In fact, it has had a few working titles)
4.  FRG training (no that has nothing to do with this novel, but it is something I should be doing)
5.  Vacuuming (I said I would, I should.)
6.  Other things even less exciting.

I am open to ideas, thoughts, and comments.

Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest

So . . . Amazon has a contest where they publish unpublished novels.  Great!

Just like in the real world, one must submit a pitch, excerpt, and full manuscript.  If the novel is liked by all it gets published!

Unlike the real world, the whole process is rather quick.  There is no contract negotiation if you win (ie you get what they offer or nothing).  It is possible to receive a review, even if your story doesn't win.  Oh and there is voting and reviewing by the people.  Again . . .

Is this something I want to do?  Yes and No.  Resounding no.  But yes.  Yes?  Yes.

I don't know.  This novel has been rejected by three agents.  They are not publishers though.  Nor are they my "fans".  Like those exist yet.  Other than my fantastic family and friends who voted so fervently for me in the America's Next Author Competition.  Can we do this again?  We can try.  Maybe.

The whole deal has to be submitted by January 27, 2013.  I guess I will be combing through it again.  I haven't looked at it, in a while.  Maybe the distance will help me see anything that I must tweak.

Brave face.  Go write a pitch.  Get the excerpt together.  Polish the manuscript.  Enter contest.  Breath.  Hold it together.  Here goes nothing . . . again.

Sorry I left you hanging . . .

My realization was that the FREE online courses I signed up for on Coursera begin in a couple of weeks.  Sadly there are no writing classes.  However, the two I am enrolled in will directly impact my writing.  The first is "Science from Superheros to Global Warming".  The second is "Fantasy and Science Fiction:  The Human Mind, Our Modern World".  Yes, I have taken science classes and Science Fiction and Fantasy classes.  However, the science class is stated to focus on what is "good science" in relation to things such as superheros, movies, and real world issues.  The SF&F class tackles a few stories I have read, but many more I have not.  Both classes are lead by real professors from top notch colleges.  Oddly, I get more done, when I have a lot going on.  So, here's to more reading, more writing, and more learning! 

If you are interested in free college level online classes check out:  http://www.coursera.org/ 

All the hope for a happy new year-

Dashed.  No it's really not that bad.  Just irked that the first day of mail delivery of 2013, I get a rejection letter.  Not only did it take forever to arrive, since I sent the queries out in August (yes I know up to 6 months response time and agents are super busy reading shit they will reject).  Must be exhausting.  However, this is the most disappointing rejection letter to date.  Here it is, in all it's brevity:

Dear Author:  Yup, August to end of December, and he couldn't even stick my name in there.

Thank you for your letter. You're most welcome.  Unfortunately, I didn't feel I'd be the right agent for your work.  Would it kill you to tell me why?

Best wishes for finding a good agent and publisher.  Thank you.  It's beginning to look like I'll need it.

Cordially,  Now you're trying to make your obviously photo copied rejection letter unique?

Agent signature  The reason it's obvious photo copied.

Agent name printed

***

Well there you have it.  I don't even have a lot of sarcasm for it, because it doesn't say much.  Now I'm only waiting on one more.  I'm not holding my breath though.  It was an email query.

More news tomorrow.  I came to an awesome realization last night!  You must wait to hear what it was.  :)  See ya tomorrow.

Welcome 2013!

Quick 2012 overview:  I finished my first novel and began my second, got my first novel rejected twice and ignored twice, entered a few contests (didn't win any), had my story in the very public America's Next Author competition and had some really good moments, participated (and did not win) NaNoWriMo and actually began a third novel.  I do have feelings about all of that, most of which is documented elsewhere in this blog, so there is no need to go back through it.  I learned a lot and have a long way to go.

Welcome 2013!  What is ahead:  buckling down and finishing the sequel to novel number 1, participate in a local start up writers group, re-read/edit novel number 1, find a new list of agents to query, revamp query, send out said query, writer more short stories, submit said stories to lit mags, work on gaining a better presence on social media/this very blog, publish something in 2013!  Sounds like a busy year to me.

I'll update soon.  Once I reorganize from our holiday trip and remove the Christmas decor from my house.