Okay, update time!

It's only been about a month since I last updated this blog. What's up with that? Well, I've not had much to say. Still writing, still caring for my family, still caring for my pets (and getting more fish), and I'm still revising my novel. I love the feedback I've been getting from my crit group. :D No matter how many times I look at my work, I can't see the mistakes that they point out to me (and I've tried to make sure the work was error free before sending it)!

I've put off sending queries for a while, but will be getting back into that soon. This business of writing is a long process with many ups and downs. Just when you think things are the best they can be, you discover they can be better. :D I'm back to loving my novel and being excited about its possibilities.

Hamster life

Sometimes I think it would be nice to be a hamster. My Dwarf Hamster (I took Harvey back and traded him for a nicer model which I named Luna) sleeps off and on through the day and plays mostly at night. She doesn't have to worry about children, or bills, or anything except where her food and water is and whether to run in the wheel or climb up the toobs (yes, that's how it's spelled). Well, she has to worry about me sticking my hands in the cage to hold her, but that seems to be it. Of course, life is always greener and all that . . . were I actually a hamster, I may realize that it isn't the wonderful life I imagine it to be.

Alas, I am (and will continue to be) a human. So I have bills that I need to pay, children that need cared for, a house that needs cleaned, and sleep that has been lost (never to be found). Though I sometimes wish this wasn't my life, it is, and I will make the best of it. Besides, if I were a hamster, I wouldn't have the pleasure of typing. :-)

In truth, my life is good. I have a house to live in (even if it isn't always clean), I have a husband and children who love me (even if they also annoy me now and then), I have food to eat (even if I have to prepare it), and I have fingers to type with (even if they fumble once in a hwile). So my life is more desirable than that of a hamster (though a hamster gets more sleep). :-)

As for writing, I've not done much. I've enjoyed critiquing the work of others and have plans to do some revisions based upon critiques others have done on my work. But the plans have yet to be carried out. I've sent a couple of queries to agents, but haven't heard back. I'm not sure if this signifies a lack of interest, or a contemplation of an offer. I suppose if I don't hear back, it's a "no."

I am researching a couple more agents and will query them soon.

You write, right?

Yes, it's true, I've done some writing! I know, I know, amazing isn't it? I guess you all need a moment to compose yourselves after that little shock. Go ahead, take a moment. Better now?

So, what writing did I do? I composed a short story that will probably go nowhere, but it was fun and fulfilling to get back into the groove. Now, I know I should focus on my novel, but I'm taking some time to look at the novels of others and giving my opinion . . . otherwise known as a critique. I am also sending some of my work for critique by others. I love this process as it gives me the opportunity to learn what other people think of my work, and hopefully help those I critique.

Besides, after spending so much time with my novel, I have to admit, I'm at the hating-it-and-wanting-to-chuck-it-out-a-window stage. Having critiques helps me get the spark of love for my work back. Then I can revise and improve and hopefully all will be well with the world . . . well maybe the world is a bit too much, but at least everything may be well with my book and thus my little corner of the world. :-)

Yes, Virginia, there is a blogger!

Well, it may be hard to believe, but there IS still a blogger here. I know I've been lax in posting to my blog. Shame on me! I think I'll have to punish myself . . . let's see, perhaps I should ground myself to my room! Yeah, I like that idea, no phone calls, no children, no housework. *sigh* If only . . . :)

I'd like to say I've been busy writing, and I suppose if I were a liar, I COULD say that. Alas, I believe in honesty so I'll tell the truth . . . I've been lazy! I've done a bit of reading, spent time gazing at my fish, ran to kids' end-of-school programs and activities, and tried to make friends with my new Dwarf Hamster (named Harvey The Wonder Hamster . . . please tell me someone else out there knows where this name originated! Otherwise, I'll feel dreadfully old and nerdish). He's a cute little thing!




But he likes to bite me every time I put my hand in the cage. He's even taken to biting me when he's out of the cage. I get the feeling he doesn't like me. I'd feel bad, but my oldest daughter had him before me and we had to trade (I got her hamster, and she got mine) because he kept biting her (as she is only 6, I felt the need to protect her from this mean little thing) so I know it's not just me. I may have to take him back to the pet shop on Monday if he doesn't behave himself (we got them on Wednesday) and see if I can trade him for a less ferocious model. :-(

Anyway, that's what's been going on . . . I really should keep up with my blogging better! Sorry all!

Unite!

I am joining the ranks of my fellow writers who are publishing links to Barbara Bauer and her attempts to silence AW and others from posting the Twenty worst agencies list that has Barbara Bauer as fourth in the list. I am also posting the list (though if you click on the second use of HER name, you'll be taken to SFWA's copy of the list) here on my blog.


THE LIST:

* The Abacus Group Literary Agency
* Allred and Allred Literary Agents (refers clients to “book doctor” Victor West of Pacific Literary Services)
* Capital Literary Agency (formerly American Literary Agents of Washington, Inc.)
* Barbara Bauer Literary Agency
* Benedict & Associates (also d/b/a B.A. Literary Agency)
* Sherwood Broome, Inc.
* Desert Rose Literary Agency
* Arthur Fleming Associates
* Finesse Literary Agency (Karen Carr)
* Brock Gannon Literary Agency
* Harris Literary Agency
* The Literary Agency Group, which includes the following:
Children’s Literary Agency
Christian Literary Agency
New York Literary Agency
Poets Literary Agency
The Screenplay Agency
Stylus Literary Agency (formerly ST Literary Agency)
Writers Literary & Publishing Services Company (the editing arm of the above-mentioned agencies)
* Martin-McLean Literary Associates
* Mocknick Productions Literary Agency, Inc.
* B.K. Nelson, Inc.
* The Robins Agency (Cris Robins)
* Michele Rooney Literary Agency (also d/b/a Creative Literary Agency and Simply Nonfiction)
* Southeast Literary Agency
* Mark Sullivan Associates
* West Coast Literary Associates (also d/b/a California Literary Services)

If you feel so inclined, please see Jim's blog for information on how you can unite against scam agents/agencies.

Technorati link: BarbaraBauer

Where am I?

Well, it's been a while since I posted to this blog. I've been taking care of my family, reading books, revising, critiquing, caring for my guppies (you can read about them by visiting Guppy Diaries), and writing a bit now and then. :-) The kids will be out of school for the summer soon, and I may not have as much time for writing as we have family reunions and such during the summer.

I've joined a new critique group and am very happy with the feedback I've recieved (and hopefully the feedback I've given is helpful). I've done more revisions on my first chapter as a result. Is there ever an end? :-)

Go Fish!

Well, I went fishing, sort of . . . I went to the pet shop and purchased some Fancy Guppies. Why? Well, it is a long story so if you do not have time to read it (or you don't care), just keep swimming.

My daughters have aquatic turtles that used to live in a ten-gallon fish tank. They started out as wee little things but have grown (duh!) until the 10g tank was no longer large enough to accommodate them. We purchased a twenty-gallon turtle tank (yes, a tank made especially for aquatic turtles) and the turtles are much happier with their new digs. After the move, I was left with the 10g tank. Well, obviously I had to put it to use! My son's science teacher was kind enough to offer Feeder Guppies (the kind that people buy to feed to other fish, etc.) to anyone who wanted them. My son brought home four of them for himself. Since he already had a small fish bowl to keep them in and didn't requre my 10g tank, I asked him to bring some Feeder Guppies home for me. He was happy to oblige and returned with nine fish for my 10g tank.

So how did the Feeder Guppies turn into Fancy Guppies? Was it magic? NO! As I said, I went to the pet store . . . But that's later in the story. :-) So I have nine Feeder Guppies. I begin to research Guppies online (I wanted more information) and discovered the wonders of Fancy Guppies. Now, if you don't know, Feeder Guppies aren't the most attractive things, but Fancy Guppies . . . Now those are beautiful fish! The websites I visited filled my mind with information and left vivid images of the gorgeous guppies in my brain. So I went to my pet store (to purchase more food for the turtles . . . And no, we don't feed them guppies) and there in the tanks were Fancy Guppies! Oh, the beauty, the wonder! I had to have some for my self!

I purchased two males and one female (after the sales clerk assured me the Fancy Guppies wouldn't devour my Feeder Guppies) and happily brought them home. The next morning, the female Fancy Guppy was sleeping with the fishes, and not in a good way (she was dead). I mourned as I flushed her (what did you want me to do, bury her in the back yard?) and after I dropped my kids off at school, I went back to the pet store to purchase another fish. This time, the sales clerk was kind enough to let me purchase one female and get two free (I think she felt sorry for my loss). So that brought the count to 9 Feeders and 5 Fancies. But was that enough? No!

The next morning, I woke to find baby guppies! Eight of them! Apparently, one of the new females was pregnant! I transferred the babies to a new container (the adults will sometimes eat the babies) and went shopping for a breeding net (so I could put the babies back in the tank and they would be protected from the adults) and some baby guppy food (yes they sell such a thing). Well, they had gotten a new shipment of fish! Could I resist? Nay, I could not. I purchased two more females and one male. I also purchased two smaller tanks (normally used to keep Beta in), one for my son to put his guppies in, and one for my oldest daughter because she wanted some guppies too! I brought everything home, set up the new tanks, took my Feeder Guppies from my 10g tank, gave six of them to my daughter, three to my son. Then, my youngest daughter decided she wanted some guppies (like I couldn't see that coming). So I took the small tank from my son, went out to the shed to retrieve his old Beta tank (I think it holds 1.5-2g), cleaned the tank, transferred his original four fish into the Beta tank, gave my youngest daughter three guppies in the smaller tank, put my son's baby guppies in the small fish bowl, and now everyone is happy.


So we have a lot of guppies (one of my son's Feeders had two babies)! I must say, I don't regret it (at the moment). The fish are beautiful and I love to be able to look at them as I pause in my writing. It is so relaxing! So, if anyone needs guppies . . . :-)

So, what have I done writing wise? Revised my query and used it as bait to catch an agent. So far, I haven't even had a nibble, but I'm hoping to catch one soon.