As Problem Child mentioned last Tuesday, the mojo seems to be hopping here at the Playground. I know it was flowing freely at conference and has seemed to overflow since the Children returned home.
Though I didn’t attend conference, I had a lovely SQUEE moment of my own last week. I found out that one of my manuscripts, Return to Mill Town, finaled in the Maggies Contest, short contemporary category. It will go on to a final judge at Harlequin. *Fingers crossed!* This contest is one of the longest running RWA chapter contests (held by Georgia Romance Writers) and carries a bit of prestige for finaling, so that little tidbit will look good on future query letters.
Yay, me!
Quite frankly, I needed this encouragement. I’ve been working really hard to get my writing “out there”, submitting to contests and editors with my Circle of 5 plan. I’m down to 4 at the moment, having gotten back a rejection week before last, but I’m submitting to a carefully chosen contest this week and have a novella going out to a publisher as well. Here’s hoping the Circle of 5 will continue to bear prosperous fruit. The Plan Is Working!!!!
Add to that my euphoria at being able to stay at home and write while the kids are in school, and I’m feeling pretty good about my writing right now. I wrote a record number of pages this week, and plan to savor the chance to do this while it lasts.
So, let’s talk accomplishments. What’s your current plan of action (for writing or any important project of the moment)? Or are you one of those "fly by the seat of your pants" people, who take each day as it comes?
Let’s have a round of teeter totters to celebrate today!
Angel
21 comments:
Congrats on finaling in the Maggie Contest, Angel. I'm not a fly by the seat of my pants kind of person. I'm pretty anal, so I like to have a plan.
Great job on finaling. It's just one step closer to your dream.
I'm definitely a seat of my pants person. Right now I'm blank on my blog that should be posted in an hour. Here' hoping inspiration hits in the next couple of minutes. :)
Congratulations, Angel! I'm so happy for you!
Right now my only plan is to get over this crud I've picked up...
Congratulations! What wonderful news. :-)
LJ -- A fly by the seat of my pants person, for sure.
I'm so happy for you, Angel!! WOO! And I'll be keeping various body parts crossed for a win.
Woohoo! A MAGGIE finalist!! That's wonderful, Angel! Big hugs to you, chica! :P
As far as accomplishments, all the mojo around here must have worn off on me, too, because I've written over 12K on a new story in the past six days. It's falling into place so perfectly it's scary. My plan is to just keep riding the wave!
Congratulations Angel! Good luck with the Maggie Contest.
My plan would be to get my home sold, it's been on the market 6 weeks now & I am ready to move on to the next chapter in my life. I am anticipating moving closer to my sisters and I am looking forward to it.
robertsonreads
SQUUUEEEE on finaling in such a great contest!
My current plans...hold my breath until I pass out or something happens (good or bad). And until I pass out, just keep working on the next thing. Got to follow my own advice from the article I wrote on what to do while I wait. I'll do anything but clean my desk.
SQUEEEE!! I'm so happy for you Angel! No one deserves this more than you do. You've worked hard for this moment. Enjoy it!
My plans? Get my butt in gear :-) And get back into the routine of school, work, writing, life...
Instigator
Yay you! I'm so excited, and will keep my fingers and toes crossed for you.
My plan of action is definitely a seat of the pants one. After a long dry spell, I sold another story last week so I'm excited to get more stories written and circulating. I pulled out one I'd started earlier this year and abandoned. I only had a page written and the research done. I have about 7 pages now and hope to finish it and send it off by the end of the week. Of course, the Olympic games are going on and I do so love to watch them. I guess I should use them as a reward. I can watch track and field if I write 5 pages or something like that.
PM
Congratulations Angel on the contest final!
Me, I have always been a fly girl but have come to the conclusion I will need somewhat of a flight pattern when it comes to focusing on my writing.
I am a born nurturer and have a habit of putting off things for myself to take care of my familys every whim. Notice I said whim...that is about to change. I had a good talking to myself this weekend (yes, and I even stood in front of the mirror during this conversation for more emphasis) on the direction I would like my life to take. No one can make that happen but me and I have to set some goals with rules and boundaries for that to happen. If I don't take myself seriously about my writing, how can I expect anyone in my family to?
Wonder how my different flavors of Hamburger Helper there are?? :D
WTG Angel! I'm so excited for you and will keep good writing thoughts headed your way!
My only goal is to heal from my foot surgery right now. I'm getting around really well, and even can get up and down the stairs without much trouble. Just moving really slow and it's driving me crazy. My goal for the day is to go buy stamps and stop by the library before I come back and nap.
Angel, huge mega congratulations! This is a fabulous accomplishment! I never, ever did well in the Maggies. It is a very prestigious contest and you ROCK!!!!
I'm a seat of the pants person. :) No big surprise there. But I have some things that I desperately need to accomplish in order to meet expectations from conference, so I guess I should be busy. But I gotta check my favorite haunts first!
Well, I feel a little out of place with all you pansters, but that's okay. Y'all give me hope for those days when I can't plan.
As for today, I'm moving slowly and plans are falling by the wayside really fast. I picked up some kind of stomach thing yesterday and, let's just say, during the night it wasn't pretty. I'm still nauseous with a pounding head today. Not fun.
Thanks to everyone for the congrats!!! I'm very excited, but disappointed that I won't be able to attend the dinner. My sil is getting married that night. Ugh! (Not that I'm not happy for her...)
Hugs to Rhonda, Liza, and our own PC for not feeling well today! Here's hoping you all recover quickly and easily.
Alright, Jolie!!! You go girl! Doesn't it feel awesome when the story is flowing? Ride that wave.
Yes, SP, we have to move on. Keep writing. It makes the wait that much easier, I think.
Angel
Sherry,
You are right. Your family won't take it seriously unless you do. Keep focused girl, even if the progress is slower than you'd like. One page a day will make a 365 page book in a year...
And your family should be happy that Hamburger Helper has so many flavors... my just gets plain old mac 'n cheese. :)
Angel
SQUEE!! That's fabulous about the Maggies. We all know how I did in the Maggies...
I like Sherry's comment about being a Fly Girl. I think I like that better than Pantser. Fly Girls are cool!
I sent the book off yesterday, so I'm going to laze around today...
Angel—that is so great about the Maggies! Stephanie and I will be at M&M to cheer you on, even though you won't be there. We will go out and call you as soon as we know.
Since I am in a partnership, I have the best of both worlds. I am a Fly Girl with a Flight Plan, supplied to me. Our submissions are gone as of Friday and I am so happy that I have a project that I am excited about to go back to. I am also thrilled that it's going to be quite a while before Stephanie makes me write another synopsis.
Congratulations on your Maggie Contest accomplishment!
After 30 years of meeting daily deadlines and monthly sales goals I am now a definitely "by the seat of my pants" person. Oh, the joys of being retired...no appointments before 10 AM and I can say "No" to requests to do things if I want to.
In retrospect, the 30 years of meeting deadlines, sales goals, etc rewarded me with the satisfaction of accomplishment and a wall full of North Carolina Press Association Advertising awards. Of course there is always someone in the family who can put you in your place...re coming home to find a bulletin board in your daughter's bedroom with a newspaper clipping of you and your award with the words above it spelled out in 3 inch letters - "Local Hag Makes Headlines". No, it was not your Playground Monitor - it was her sister!
Elizabeth
Yahhhh!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks so so much Elizabeth, and I wanted to tell you that I visit the Q&S website a few times a day. Mainly for great crafty ideas and of course the daily n monthly sweps. I have always wanted to win a make-up or cosmetic prize even comething clothing will do. I''ve been dieting for 6 months an have lost over 35lbs I'm back down to 140lbs and have a flat tum tum n a six pack again. So it's time to get rid of the old Dana fat n ugly an be the new Dana. Clothing n make-up will deff help this. I am also having a "MASSIVE WITHDRAW" from the Q&S magazine no longer being distributed! Thank goodness for the website, I love the recipes n craft tips n instructions. I'm a floral designer n wedding planner n I got a many a ideas from your mags. Q&S has always been in the top 3 faves of mine, when it comes to magazines!
PS- I'm pleading with Hearst Magazines to PLEASE bring back Quick and Simple (Q&S) Magazine;
Hugs Elizabeth!
Dana aka Star*
Elizabeth
Yahhhh!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks so so much Elizabeth, and I wanted to tell you that I visit the Q&S website a few times a day. Mainly for great crafty ideas and of course the daily n monthly sweps. I have always wanted to win a make-up or cosmetic prize even comething clothing will do. I''ve been dieting for 6 months an have lost over 35lbs I'm back down to 140lbs and have a flat tum tum n a six pack again. So it's time to get rid of the old Dana fat n ugly an be the new Dana. Clothing n make-up will deff help this. I am also having a "MASSIVE WITHDRAW" from the Q&S magazine no longer being distributed! Thank goodness for the website, I love the recipes n craft tips n instructions. I'm a floral designer n wedding planner n I got a many a ideas from your mags. Q&S has always been in the top 3 faves of mine, when it comes to magazines!
PS- I'm pleading with Hearst Magazines to PLEASE bring back Quick and Simple (Q&S) Magazine;
Hugs Elizabeth!
Dana aka Star*
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