America's Next Author - In Review

Overall:  Good -- I put my writing out there.  That's the hardest thing for me.  I'm so afraid of rejection (which being a writer, one must expect and embrace).  Understanding and acceptance of this fact are two very different things.

Not only did people see my writing, but I went out to several local (and not so local) businesses and talked to people.  Another thing I'm not so strong at.  (One reason I wanted to write when I was young).  I now see my faulty thinking in that.  Of course, when I am actually writing, I do not need to interact with people.  However, if I want people to read my stuff, I now know I do - and a lot.

Next I need to send out some serious thanks!  First to my husband, Rob, who I sent to work with instructions to make everyone he worked with read my story and vote.  I could not have done this well without him.  Thank you to everyone who reviewed my story.  Your input will help me become a better writer.  Thank you to everyone who voted, shared, tweeted, and asked friends to vote too!

Complaints:
-My biggest complaint about the competition is I am still not sure how the votes were tabulated.  I know they stated the reason being for that is that no one could cheat.  However, it would have at least been helpful to see how many quick votes everyone had.  I am guessing this had the biggest effect and in the weeks where I was in the top 20, I think being able to say "I am 50 votes behind number one" would have helped reach more readers.  Just a thought.
-I also did not like that the voting started a new every week, but it didn't seem to in all respects.  I guess I just wished that I had understood the voting system better.

What next?  Well I am going to read, vote, and review all of the finalists starting Wednesday.  I would like to read what I lost against and help (who I feel to be) the best writer win.  I encourage anyone who reads this to do the same.

Next next?  I will go back to the novel I was writing before NaNoWriMo.  No I didn't even come close to winning.  However, I do like where my NaNo novel was going, and I suspect that I will finish that some day too.

Reaction to Reviews

The America's Next Author contest is coming to a close with this week as the last to secure a nomination or wild card spot (however one get's that).  I have gotten mostly positive feedback, which makes me feel amazing and sends me smiling ear to ear, especially if someone gives specific positive feedback.  Negative feedback on the other hand sends waves of irritation streaming through my blood.  There were only a couple that were negative, and after being in multiple creative writing workshops in my life, I have the innate need to defend my work.  I've been letting this simmer for a couple of weeks now and I think it's time to share.

1.  I proof read this piece over and over again.  If there is a misspelled/misused word, incorrect punctuation, or something else, I obviously missed it.  I'm sorry.  No one is perfect.  If it bothers you or you want to help me improve my writing, please email me at tinarazz@yahoo.com and tell me where the errors are, I will be happy to fix them.  I too, have not earned a single penny from writing and cannot afford to pay someone to edit my work.

2.  This is NOT part of some larger story.  I have had many people say that they would like, "more".  There is no more.  I also do not feel that it ended abruptly, 911 was obviously called, the little boy was secluded from everyone else, and we find out he likes fire trucks.  Does it really matter where the knife hit the clown, how serious his injuries were, if he is alive?

3.  I too, have worked with individuals who have autism.  I am sorry if this specific story upsets anyone.  This is one, FICTIONAL, character.  He in no way represents anyone I have ever known or heard of.  I did not set out to scare anyone, but rather illustrate how misunderstood he is by the people around him, including his parents.  There are many people who are misunderstood in the world.  I just wanted the opportunity to get inside this particular character's head.

Well that just about covers it.  I miss the ability to have the dialog with my readers.  I appreciate feedback.  It means someone cared.

Day 6

It's day six and I am working hard on earning my NaNo merit badges.  Today I earned my procrastination badge by cleaning instead of writing.  This was a bad choice because then the dog brought in dirt on my newly cleaned floor.  Worth it?  That's debatable.  However, I did end up writing my daily goal.





I am also officially working on promoting my story, "Counting Blows" in the America's Next Author Competition.  If you read this blog post:  please read my story, vote, review, tweet, like on Facebook and ask others to do the same.  Thanks!

http://www.ebookmall.com/author/tina-morris

NaNoWriMo - Day 5

I've written over my goal 4 of 5 days and not written at all one day.  I did not write a lot over my goal, but if I sat down to write, I made the daily goal mark.  Today I went to Panera to write.  Coffee with free refills?  I'll take it.  Not to mention that I earned (by spending too much money at Panera) a free espresso drink!  So, score on that, looks like I'll go pick that up and write more later this week.

In other NaNo news, I am super stoked for the Rolla Write-in at the Rolla Public Library this Saturday!  I'm hoping to catch up on the day I missed, and get ahead.  It's from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.  I should well exceed my daily goal, with ease.  It generally only takes about an hour to get to my daily goal.

Also, I am really liking Scrivner.  I specifically like the count up to daily word goal and color changing graph. It makes me feel like I am accomplishing something as I go.  When I "win" NaNoWriMo, I will use my coupon from them to buy this product.  I love it!  A little motivation goes a long way for me.

America's Next Author Update:  I have taken the week off and am sitting somewhere in the 70's.  Promotion is hard, and exhausting.  I will push again next week; I think.  I just needed a week to not pour my heart and soul into it.  So if you read this, please prepare now to help me get to number one next week.  How?  Idk Mentally is fine.

Daylight saving time:  I hate it.  Almost dark at 5pm.  I'm going to have to start waking up earlier to take in as much daylight as possible. :( boo

Lessons

Ya win some.  Ya lose some.  But if you look at it through the door, between the cracks, squinting just right, you will learn something about yourself and about life.  I'm talking about specifically, all of the new writing journeys that I have been, and will continue to explore.  It's not an easy road.  I never believed it would be.  It's too early for a yearly re-cap (that will come in December).  But with October ending, and November beginning it only seems apropos to reflect and look ahead.

October started the America's Next Author contest.  I have done well, and it's not over, but I'm exhausted, both emotionally and resourcefully.  All of my friends, and their friends, to the best of their abilities have voted, shared, reviewed, FB liked and the rest.  I have printed flyers, talked to businesses, talked to people, joined craigslist, tweeted, written more than a few too many FB posts and emails.  Everyone has been great to me.  My highest place so far is 4th of 285!  Which made me feel like a million bucks.  No, I'm not giving up, but I know better than to put all of my eggs in one basket, and too much of my heart, soul, and efforts this month have been in that contest.  So, I'm going to stop worrying.  Stop looking at my page every day.  And start something new.

November starts National Novel Writer's Month.  I've got the t-shirt.  I've got the merit-badge buttons.  I've got Scrivener.  I've got a playlist (which still needs to be synced with my ipod).  I've got a region (well I'm hovering in between two).  Springfield is closest, but it's still over an hour away, so I've joined the Missouri: elsewhere also (hoping to find activities closer).  And I did!  There will be a write-in in Rolla, which I will be excitedly (nervously- it's me) attending.  I also hope to get to a write-in in Springfield, though being out of town a week (including two weekends) hinders that a bit.  I hope this will help teach me discipline  and just what it takes to pump out a novel like the pro's.

So here goes nothing.  Keep voting/sharing.  Keep writing.  Keep dreaming.

My heart is melting

In a good way.  Today when the ranks updated, I found I had climbed to 8th place!  I have gotten support from people who I adore and my face continues to redden as I type this.  I keep having to bring myself down to reality in order to keep focused at the task at hand:  promotion, promotion, promotion!  I shudder to think what my physiological reaction will be the day I get an agent or (gasp) a novel signed with a publisher.  Thanks for making my day!

Promotion

Today is a good day!  I woke up to find that I am currently ranked 4 of 285 in the America's Next Writer Competition.  It's only because I have the support of some awesome people that this is the case.  Thank you all.  Because I know that you all are trying to help me, I have re-made (as a picture so blogger would insert it onto this page) my vote for Tina sign.  I am asking anyone who is willing, to print off a couple (quick print is fine with me - it's how I save  ink) and hang them up.  I've placed a few at the local Panera Bread.  I am also thinking of heading out to my local library to ask them.  Other ideas:  If you work some place you could hang it there.  If you teach, hang it in your classroom.  If you are in a class, ask your teacher to hang it.  If you go to a coffee shop, book store, library, car mechanic(?) ask if you can hang it up.  My only request, is that you have permission to do so.  Tell them a little bit about the contest and me.  I appreciate any and all help you can give.  

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