Bad Habits by Sign

Cancers and the Candyman If you've ever wondered how Cancers stay so sweet, take a look at their sugar intake. This sign loves cookies, candy, and ice cream. An occasional indulgence is fine, but too much dessert can take a toll on waist lines and energy levels. What Crabs are really seeking is oral gratification. Sugar-free gum or dried fruit provides a healthy distraction from candy crunching. What's your bad habit?

Got myself in a twist

Remember the Fast Draft challenge a few months ago? Well, about 5 days ago at TeamGonzo C.C. proposed a new fast draft challenge called Weekend Warrior Challenge (leave it up to her to come up with such clever title *g*). The idea behind this fast draft quickie is to write a 10K story in eight days. But here is the twist. You work your story on weekends only, starting in February 4 and ending in February 26. I need a small boost. I've not been writing much lately. Not since the AQP contest. And I didn't do much writing then. Just edits and additions. After the adrenaline surge of that contest, I was left without motivation. Since I have to start working on the story for the DDD anthology, I can use this fast draft track to get the story going. Best of all, the WWC works with well with my work schedule. So yes, I accepted C.C.'s challenge. Starting next weekend, I'll become a weekend writing warrior. *lol*

Booting out

It wasn't an easy decision, but after carefully consideration, I decided to not participate in the Romance Divas's Mentor/Apprentice Bootcamp this year. To be fair, at this point in my life I can't deal with the demands that brings the relationship of mentor and apprentice. There are plenty of divas who are mentor-less so I'm sure someone else can benefit from Jana's expertise.

Making the best of rejection

I know that may sound funny but it's the truth. I'm not terrible sorry about getting that rejection yesterday. As a matter of fact, it came as a blessing. After I submitted the scene, I realized it was a pretty darn good one. It was powerful. I kept thinking about the hero and the heroine, and the more I thought about them, the more I wanted to add to details (using the five senses). Let's face it, the scene definitively needs to be expanded. Not into a full novella. I don't see it as something with a very complicated plot. But I can sure expand on the emotions, inner thoughts, and other details to the scene so it can go up maybe to 2 - 3K. Have you ever submitted a short story to a contest and afterwards you're thinking that you could have expanded to make it longer and better and curse the constraints of the contest?

First true rejection of the year

Yes. You read that right. My first true "r" letter. Or in this case email. (Gosh, gotta love technology.) I just went by to check my email and found a message from Wicked Escapes about their contest. They rejected little story, Beltane Fire. (I had a feeling they would.) According to them, "Though the story was original and interesting, we felt it could have contained a little more foreplay/sex, and were confused by the word 'beltane' (we looked it up!;), and the intial set up of the story. Your writing skills are strong, and we encourage you to keep at it! I hope you'll enter next year! Thanks again!" Did you read that part that they say my story was original and interesting? No, no! I'm not making that up! They truly wrote that! (Pssst... Hey, girls, the check is in the mail. Just kidding! *lol*) Now, I'm amazed they wanted more foreplay/sex. Not easy in just 600 words. Hmm... Maybe I should have skipped over character details. Oh, I was surprised they didn't know what Beltane (also known as May Day) was though. I thought that Beltane and Yule were the most well-known festivities. Oh well... And weren't they sweet in that last part? *g* You bet I'll participate next time. I'm already planning my wicked escapade. *evil grin*

RD's Mentor/Apprentice Bootcamp 2

Jax just posted the Mentor/Apprentice list for the Romance Divas's Bootcamp 2. I was paired with Jana J. Hanson. Sorry if I don't sound as excited as I should. I was at the beginning when Jax proposed the bootcamp back in November, and I assigned up for it right away. I couldn't wait for it to begin. However, a lot has happened since then. Personal problems. Job problems. Too much taking up of my time. Too much stress. Now I'm having some reservations about participating in the bootcamp.

Met first goal of the year

Can you believe it? I did it! I just emailed my submission to the Amber Quill Press's HeatWave Contest. (Yep, the same one I was so depressed about last year and ended up not submitting). I spent 6 days polishing the vampire story (the one I'd submitted to the other contest and never heard of from). It went from 5,992 words to around 8,350 words. Okay, I feel like I could have added more to her flashback in that one scene. Oh gosh, now I'm starting to feel all nervous. *lol* Oh, I better not think too much about it. Just be happy with the fact that I submitted it.

First rejection of the year

Okay, maybe it's not. But still, it should count as a rejection. Anyway, I didn't win in the Best Opening Scene contest held by the Romance Divas. Not that I was holding my breath. Almost nobody liked The Romance Writer and... story just by looking at the low scores it received. I'm feeling a bit stung, but it was all good. Now I know there's another genre I stink at - romantic comedies. My hearfelt congratulations go to the winning divas: Babe, C.C., and Cynthia. Good luck with Medallion Press! *g*

A new year and new goals (?)

2006 is here, and I want to wish you all a very happy one. If you're a reader, may this be a year full of good reads. And if you're a writer, may it be full of inspiration. For those who are aspiring writers, may the Muses bless you and hope this is the year you get "the letter." *g* Today I spent it painting the closet doors of my new house. I painted my office's closet bright yellow. Okay, it's yellow. But it's not so bright. I was disappointed, but it looks good so I'm letting it go. Then I painted the rest of the other rooms' closet peach. Another disappointment. I thought the color would be more orangy and not so pinky. But it grows on you, so I let it go too. I sat on the porch to watch the sun set, and as the remains of the first day of the new year dies, I realized I've not given any thoughts about goals to achieve this year. You see, I always made a list of goals in the morning of the first day of the year, which I kept in a visible place to remind me of them. This year I didn't. I was painting. Okay, that was one goal I accomplished. *lol* As the sun sank behind the mountains, I pondered what new writing goals I could achieve this year and it hit me that I bowed out of many from last year. I only wrote two stories. Actually, it was one story (for the Vamprotica contest) and one scene (the one I entered yesterday to the contest). Depressing, isn't it? *sighs* Perhaps my one goal this year should be to be more consistent about my writing. So, have you given some thought to your list goals for this year? What are some of the writing goals you've set out?