OPTIONAL IWSG Day Question: What steps have you taken to put a schedule in place for your writing and publishing?
Co-Hosts: Tyrean Martinson, The Cynical Sailor, Megan Morgan, Rachna Chhabria, and Jennifer Lane.
I write everyday. Some days I write all the words and other days only a scene or two. With an active family of five, it's challenging to be an author, but I make it a priority. And the kids hand me plot twists left and right and enough dialogue to fill endless novels. So there's that.
As for the publishing side, I would like to state that I have pursued new book deals and an agent with full force this past year. I have a couple of finished manuscripts with publishers and one with several agents. Still waiting on decisions. *Twiddles thumbs, taps fingers on the desk, refreshes email every ten seconds* This process takes time and patience. Oh, did I mention patience? Like an ocean full of tearing-out-your-hair kind of patience???
In the meantime, while I wait for bookish news, I write and live life. My two WIPs are shaping up nicely.
I thought the Midwest dodged a bullet called winter. A week and a half ago I hiked with my family in fifty-degree weather. Yes, we enjoy those temps around here for December. This past week we plunged into wind chills of thirty below. Send summer and a remote car starter.
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| Creepy barn from our hike. |
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| One week later. Yay, snow. |
I hope everyone had a safe and warm Christmas. And if you tell me you spent your holiday in Hawaii, I will stick up my nose at you. Hope everyone writes all the words this new year and has much success!
Hi Jennifer, hope you had a wonderful New Year. I also hope you get to hear good news on your book which is currently with agents. Fingers crossed for you. As for the patience bit, you are telling me, I've been waiting patiently to hear from 3 Indian publishers on my MG manuscripts. Infact I may write a book on patience next ;)
ReplyDeleteRachna Chhabria
Co-host IWSG
Rachna's Scriptorium
Thanks!! I'll co-write the book on patience with you, girl!
DeleteHaha! I wish I vacationed in Hawaii, in fact I would love to move there. Maybe. Some day. When I am full time success author :). I love the pictures and good luck on staying warm and achieving all your goals. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! Any place warm right now would be great.
DeleteWow, I'm so impressed that you write every day while managing a large family! I hope you get wonderful bookish news, but I can imagine how hard it is to wait and hear back. All the best for the New Year.
ReplyDeleteWell, my two older boys can take care of themselves. But still, thank you:)
DeleteHaha Yeah. Yay snow! We had a white Christmas, but we need lots more snow. It's been unusually warm here. If it doesn't, it'll be drought. For the second driest state in the union, that's not good.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with those projects on submission.
Please take all the snow you need. Thanks!!
DeleteA book deal and an agent would be awesome! I hope you get both this year. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, yes, that would be nice. Thanks!
DeleteThat's quite the drop in temperature.
ReplyDeleteHope you get good news soon!
Both front and back doors are frozen. Good thing we have one more point of entry to our house. UGH. Thanks!!
DeleteWe had a big swing in temperature too, getting down to about -30 (Celsius), closer to -40 with the wind chill. And a couple of good dumps of snow in between. Oh, Canada.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like your writing made good progress last year, and good luck with all the irons you have in the fire!
I don't mind fall temps, but I despise winter. Thanks! Yes, too many irons.
DeleteYour article is so encouraging. Thanks. I'm finishing up two manuscripts for submission to agents and I hope that I can say at the end of this year, mission accomplish!
ReplyDeleteWishing you all the best for 2018, and I hope you get positive news back soon.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G
I'm glad you liked it! Mission accomplished. I like that.
DeleteChildren can certainly be an inspiration, can't they? Bravo to you to have finished manuscripts awaiting publication and/or agent decisions. Here's hoping for you! Lucky you! You went on a hike with the family AND had snow. Okay, so I like snow. All the best in the New Year!
ReplyDeleteWell, not hiking with snow:) I'm such a baby. I hate cold. Thanks!
DeleteI hope you have a wonderful, successful year!! Patience is SUCH an important part of the whole process :)
ReplyDeleteAgreed! You too.
DeleteKeep writing while you're waiting!
ReplyDeleteYes, ma'am!
Delete30 below??!! Ack!!
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of the kids handing you plot twists! And I'll keep my fingers crossed for the manuscripts out on submission. Good luck!
Well, I tend to steal those plot twists. They are none the wiser. Shhh:-) Thanks!
DeleteWoot for keeping up with writing and family! I know I have trouble juggling both. I hope you hear positive word back from your submissions!
ReplyDeleteJuggling...now that's an accurate description. Thanks!
DeleteHurry up and wait is the way, so keep on a writing at your bay. Blah, to such a drop. We got it too, double blah haha
ReplyDeleteIsn't that the truth. Hurry up and wait. My motto this past year.
DeleteGood on you for your writing achievements with looking after five kids. I struggle sometimes and I have just the two! Fingers crossed you will hear some good news shortly and that your perseverance will pay off. I love that photo of the creepy looking barn - there's a good story prompt right there. And no, I'm not holidaying in Hawaii, but I'm Australian and we're having a hot summer, so please don't hold that against me. ;)
ReplyDeleteOh, you've misunderstood. I don't have five kids! :) I belong to a family of five...three kids, myself and my hubs. I thought so too about the creepy barn! Australia?? Awesome. I'm jealous.
DeleteThat's awesome that you write so regularly and are actively pursuing a book deal and agent. Be sure to let me know when you have news so I can shout out about it.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!!! I will.
DeleteThat's great that you are able to make writing a priority. I love that your kids can give you plot twists.
ReplyDeleteIt's been so cold here lately! And we're getting hit by a huge blizzard tomorrow.
I feel like I can always do more, so I'm constantly scolding myself to hurry up and write. Blizzard? So sorry!!
DeleteI suck at patience and that is why I self-publish, but I wish you much success on your traditional publishing path! I'm in Ohio and not loving these arctic temps though at least we're not on the east coast waiting for snowmageddon. Good luck finding time to write with your family of five and happy new year!
ReplyDeleteSending you warm thoughts. At least you were able to get out before the freeze set in.
ReplyDeleteWe're freezing here too. Five children can keep you really busy. I raised six and did my writing late into the night and sometimes at baseball games.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely did not get to Hawaii for Christmas. After our first flight was cancelled, I'm glad we made it to our destination (Asheville, NC) at all as we were two days late.
ReplyDeleteHope you hear some good new soon on the publishing front.
I hope you hear some good news from the publishers/agents soon. At least you're not just waiting around but working on the next book. :) Happy New Year!
ReplyDeletebarns can be really cool or spooky or meh I'll just keep waling if the temps are frigid. I'm from Michigan so I love barns new and old.
ReplyDeleteThat is a cool looking barn. Did you go in and explore? This is the coldest in southern Indiana it has been since I moved here with my husband. Thankfully I cleaned out the garage and the car sleeps in there! Have a great 2018!
ReplyDeleteI'm from Georgia where we don't usually get 30º temperatures. This week has been miserable. They had snow on the east coast near the ocean in Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA! That's crazy!!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, wishing you the best of luck for 2018, Jennifer. I hope you get some good bookish news soon.
With Love,
Mandy
I'm glad you make time to write everyday. It's really important, especially when waiting on news that is in others' control, but I hope some big news happens for you this year. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteLOL! Actually, we went to Utah and got snow on Christmas eve! The kids thought it was the BEST gift ever, and they were right. Utah is cold enough to get snow, but not so cold you don't want to be out in it. Still, it was nice to come home to Florida. I'm not built for cold weather anymore.
ReplyDeleteWow! That's a lot of snow! I hope you're staying warm!
ReplyDeleteWhat if I tell you my bosses spent four weeks in Hawaii and sent our paychecks out two weeks late because of it? Would you be jealous? Good luck with those queries!
ReplyDeleteWriting everyday is a fantastic accomplishment! I hope you get good book-deal news soon. :)
ReplyDelete